2021 Softball Schedule/Results
32-13 overall | 15-7 GPAC (T-3rd) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Record |
| Feb. 23 | Benedictine College (Kan.) | Atchison, Kan. | W, 6-4 | 1-0 |
| Feb. 23 | Benedictine College (Kan.) | Atchison, Kan. | W, 3-2 (8 inn.) | 2-0 |
| Feb. 28 | Bethany College (Kan.) | Lindsborg, Kan. | W, 5-4 | 3-0 |
| Feb. 28 | Bethany College (Kan.) | Lindsborg, Kan. | W, 10-0 (5 inn.) | 4-0 |
| Friends University Invitational: March 5-7 | ||||
| March 5 | Tabor College (Kan.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 5-2 | 5-0 |
| March 5 | University of Saint Mary (Kan.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 9-0 (5 inn.) | 6-0 |
| March 6 | Avila University (Mo.) | Wichita, Kan. | L, 3-4 | 6-1 |
| March 6 | Bethel College (Kan.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 9-0 (5 inn.) | 7-1 |
| March 7 | Friends University (Kan.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 10-2 (5 inn.) | 8-1 |
| March 7 | Dakota State University (S.D.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 12-3 (5 inn.) | 9-1 |
| March 9 | (4) Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, Okla. | L, 2-4 | 9-2 |
| March 9 | (4) Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, Okla. | W, 10-7 | 10-2 |
| March 10 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Bartlesville, Okla. | W, 13-0 (5 inn.) | 11-2 |
| March 10 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Bartlesville, Okla. | W, 10-7 | 12-2 |
| McPherson College Invite: March 11 | ||||
| March 11 | Friends University (Kan.) | McPherson, Kan. | W, 4-2 | 13-2 |
| March 11 | Presentation College (S.D.) | McPherson, Kan. | W, 10-5 | 14-2 |
| March 25 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) | 15-2, 1-0 |
| March 25 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 12-3 (5 inn.) | 16-2, 2-0 |
| March 27 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | W, 4-3 | 17-2, 3-0 |
| March 27 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | L, 1-7 | 17-3, 3-1 |
| March 30 | *(16) Morningside College | Seward, Neb. | L, 3-4 | 17-4, 3-2 |
| March 30 | *(16) Morningside College | Seward, Neb. | L, 1-14 (5 inn.) | 17-5, 3-3 |
| April 7 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 8-4 | 18-5, 4-3 |
| April 7 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 6-3 | 19-5, 5-3 |
| April 11 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | W, 6-3 | 20-5, 6-3 |
| April 11 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 20-6, 6-4 |
| April 21 | *University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | L, 1-3 | 20-7, 6-5 |
| April 21 | *University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | W, 4-2 | 21-7, 7-5 |
| April 24 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) | 22-7, 8-5 |
| April 24 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-2 | 23-7, 9-5 |
| April 25 | *Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) | 24-7, 10-5 |
| April 25 | *Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | L, 3-5 | 24-8, 10-6 |
| April 27 | *College of Saint Mary | Omaha, Neb. | L, 4-5 | 24-9, 10-7 |
| April 27 | *College of Saint Mary | Omaha, Neb. | W, 6-3 | 25-9, 11-7 |
| May 1 | *Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 5-2 | 26-9, 12-7 |
| May 1 | *Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 7-6 | 27-9, 13-7 |
| May 2 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | W, 8-0 (6 inn.) | 28-9, 14-7 |
| May 2 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | W, 9-0 (5 inn.) | 29-9, 15-7 |
| GPAC Softball Tournament (Pod Play): May 5-6 | ||||
| May 5 | Doane University | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 5-1 | 30-9 |
| May 5 | (13) Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 9-3 | 31-9 |
| May 6 | (13) Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 4-0 | 32-9 |
| GPAC Championship Series: May 8 | ||||
| May 8 | (25) Midland University - Gm 1 | Fremont, Neb. | L, 1-9 (6 inn.) | 32-10 |
| May 8 | (25) Midland University - Gm 2 | Fremont, Neb. | L, 0-8 (5 inn.) | 32-11 |
| NAIA National Championship Opening Round: May 17-19 | ||||
| May 17 | (22) Grand View University (Iowa) | Chickasha, Okla. | L, 4-5 (9 inn.) | 32-12 |
| May 18 | (3) Science & Arts of Oklahoma | Chickasha, Okla. | L, 3-5 | 32-13 |
2021 Softball Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Yr. | B/T | Hometown | Previous School |
| 1 | Jerzi Rowe | P | 5-3 | Fr. | L/L | Gretna, Neb. | Gretna HS |
| 2 | Kylee Nixon | INF | 5-2 | So. | R/R | York, Neb. | York HS |
| 4 | Ashley Evans | P | 5-3 | Fr. | R/R | Westminster, Colo. | Faith Christian Academy |
| 5 | Jennifer Gilotti | P | 5-11 | Fr. | R/R | Cheyenne, Wyo. | Cheyenne Central HS |
| 6 | Julia Van Wey | INF | 5-10 | Fr. | R/R | San Diego, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS |
| 7 | Shelby Ziegler | OF | 5-10 | Fr. | R/R | Waco, Neb. | Centennial Public HS |
| 8 | Creighton Taylor | OF | 5-0 | Fr. | R/R | Gretna, Neb. | Gretna HS |
| 9 | Caitlyn McGarvie | OF | 5-8 | Fr. | R/R | Valparaiso, Neb. | Lincoln North Star HS |
| 10 | Maggi Hughes | INF | 5-3 | Fr. | R/R | Sabetha, Kan. | Sabetha HS |
| 11 | Taylor Zehendner | INF | 5-5 | So. | R/R | Pleasanton, Neb. | Heathland Lutheran |
| 12 | Hailey Wilson | C | 5-3 | Fr. | R/R | Cozad, Neb. | Cozad HS |
| 13 | Megan Klenke | INF | 5-11 | Jr. | R/R | Friend, Neb. | Friend HS |
| 14 | Mara Hjermstad | C | 5-4 | Fr. | R/R | Gretna, Neb. | Gretna HS |
| 16 | Gillian Mettenbrink | OF | 5-10 | Fr. | R/R | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS |
| 17 | Allysia Thayer | C | 5-2 | Jr. | R/R | Etiwanda, Calif. | Etiwanda HS |
| 18 | Rachel Johnson | INF | 5-7 | Fr. | R/R | Stuttgart, Germany | Stuttgart HS |
| 20 | Tori Ritzma | OF | 5-3 | So. | R/R | Concordia, Kan. | Saint Paul Lutheran HS |
| 21 | Zoe Flores | P | 5-5 | Fr. | L/L | Port Lavaca, Texas | Calhoun HS |
| 23 | Hhano Haro | INF | 5-4 | Jr. | R/R | Garden Grove, Calif. | Pacifica HS |
| 24 | Camry Moore | INF/P | 5-11 | So. | R/R | Crete, Neb. | Crete HS |
| 25 | Grace Boganowski | INF | 5-2 | Fr. | R/R | Omaha, Neb. | Concordia Lutheran HS |
| 26 | Molly Vander Hamm | C | 5-3 | Fr. | R/R | Firth, Neb. | Norris HS |
| 29 | Alexis Tachovsky | INF | 5-6 | Fr. | R/R | Wilber, Neb. | Wilber-Clatonia HS |
| 31 | Brena Brown | OF | 5-9 | Fr. | R/R | Broken Arrow, Okla. | Immanuel Lutheran HS |
| 32 | Brooke Townsend | P | 5-7 | Fr. | R/R | Long Beach, Calif. | Saint Anthony HS |
| 33 | Tori Homolka | INF | 5-4 | Jr. | R/R | Swanton, Neb. | Wilber-Clatonia HS |
| 34 | Jenessa Jarvis | OF | 5-5 | Jr. | R/R | Vail, Ariz. | Cienega HS |
| 35 | Regan Karel | OF | 5-9 | So. | R/R | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS / U. of South Dakota |
| 36 | Dawn Pettyjohn | UTIL | 5-4 | So. | R/R | Green Bay, Wisc. | Mesquite HS |
| 37 | Sydney Schildt | INF | 5-7 | Fr. | R/R | Pleasant Dale, Neb. | Milford HS |
| 40 | Jadyn Lindgren | OF | 5-3 | Jr. | R/R | Hickman, Neb. | Norris HS |
STAFF
Shawn Semler, Head Coach (3rd Year)
Breena Martinez, Graduate Assistant Coach
Bre Hamilton, Graduate Assistant Coach
Billy Baugh, Hitting Coach
Alan Moore, Pitching Coach
Softball receives national votes, picked second in GPAC preseason poll
Jan 13, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – As preseason practice gets underway for Concordia University Softball, the program enters 2021 with high hopes. In preseason rankings released this week by the NAIA, the Bulldogs appeared at No. 2 in the GPAC while also receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. In the final conference poll of 2020 (prior to the abrupt ending of the season), Concordia had checked in at No. 3.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad is eager to return to the diamond for official competition for the first time since the 2020 team’s spring break trip. At the time the 2020 season went dark, the Bulldogs owned a record of 12-2 and had just completed a 7-1 road trip in Kissimmee, Fla. Concordia did not have an opportunity to play either GPAC games or any games at its home field Plum Creek Park.
Many of the top players from the 2020 team have returned. That group includes past All-GPAC honorees such as third baseman Hhana Haro, shortstop Tori Homolka, pitcher/first baseman Camry Moore and catcher Allysia Thayer. The veteran core of the squad also features outfielder Jenessa Jarvis and second baseman Kylee Nixon.
The Bulldogs have received votes nationally semi-regularly in recent years. Concordia picked up votes at some point in each of the 2016, 2017, 2019 and now 2021 seasons. The 2021 squad will attempt to become the program’s first ranked team since the 1998 group checked in at No. 25.
The season is slated to begin on Feb. 13 with a doubleheader at Ottawa University (Kan.). The Bulldogs hope to make their first home appearance on March 16 with a twin bill versus Mayville State University (N.D.).
Season Preview: 2021 Concordia Softball
February 2, 2021
Head coach: Shawn Semler (40-14, 3rd year at Concordia; 451-272, 17th year as college head coach)
2020 record: 12-2, 0-0 GPAC
Key returners: Zoe Flores (P); Hhana Haro (3B); Tori Homolka (IF/OF); Jenessa Jarvis (OF); Regan Karel (OF); Caitlyn McGarvie (OF); Camry Moore (P); Kylee Nixon (INF); Allysia Thayer (C).
Key losses: Dalaney Nance (INF); Savannah Robertson (INF); Sydni Schernikau (INF); MacKinsey Schmidt (OF).
2019 GPAC all-conference: Hhana Haro (first team); Tori Homolka (first team); Camry Moore (second team); Allysia Thayer (second team); Brittany Woolridge (first team).
*No All-GPAC team announced in 2020
Outlook
The last time Concordia Softball took the field, Head Coach Shawn Semler’s program had polished off a 7-1 spring break run in Kissimmee, Fla., and had the look of team capable of enjoying a special season. Those hopeful prospects turned to tears for a group of seniors that knew it would not return for 2021. On the plus side, the Bulldogs welcome back a core of star players with legitimate prospects of winning a GPAC regular-season championship, something the program last accomplished in 2008.
In two seasons under Semler, Concordia has gone a combined 40-14. With a roster featuring many familiar faces that have had a hand in those victories, the Bulldogs enter this spring as a confident bunch with lofty expectations.
“It’s probably been one of the best atmospheres I’ve seen in all my years of coaching,” said Semler, who is entering his 17th season as a collegiate head coach. “There’s an anxiousness to get started and I think that has to do with ending last year the way we did. We ended it 12-2 and really have a great nucleus back. What I love the most is I’ve heard (from our players): we’re going to have so much fun, and we’re going to win a lot of games. I want us to go out and have fun and not worry about anything – just go out and play the game the way they can because it’s a talented, talented group.”
Particularly in the infield, Concordia is loaded. Camry Moore is poised to become one of the top two-way players in all of the NAIA as a star with the pitching arm and bat. The left side of the infield packs a punch with 2018 GPAC Player of the Year Hhana Haro at third base and first team All-GPAC star Tori Homolka at shortstop. This also figures to be the year that accolades roll in for second baseman Kylee Nixon. All four were stellar in last year’s shortened campaign.
Moore was especially incredible in 2020 while hitting .422 with four home runs, five doubles and 20 RBIs at the plate. She also went 7-1 with a 1.27 ERA in 55 innings as a pitcher. Meanwhile, Haro batted .585 with five doubles and two home runs. She collected at least one hit in all 12 games she played. It’s not a stretch to say that Haro is one of the best pure hitters in all of the NAIA.
Said Haro, “All of us have a lot of trust in each other’s capabilities, especially on the offensive side. We have this mentality of pass the bat. I know if I don’t do it I can look at Tori. She’s got my back. I trust she’s going to get the job done and vice-versa with everybody on the team. All of us just work really well together. I think we’ll continue to play well together.”
Homolka has started at multiple positions in her collegiate career, but has found a home at shortstop. Homolka stung the ball in 2019 when she hit .400 and slugged .679 (21 extra base hits). As for Nixon, Semler will tell you that she hit the ball as consistently hard as anyone on the team last spring. When Moore’s not pitching, she will sometimes slide over to first base next to Nixon. A second team All-GPAC choice in 2019, Allysia Thayer is used to catching Moore and has been a staple behind the plate.
The outfield absorbed a significant loss with speedy center fielder MacKinsey Schmidt graduating and moving on to medical school. Semler has been pleased with what he’s seeing from the likes of returners Jenessa Jarvis and Caitlyn McGarvie, who both have an inside track on starting roles. Jarvis possesses 79 games worth of collegiate experience. Finding that third outfield starter to replace Schmidt will be a priority leading up to the season opener.
Though it’s a veteran team, there’s also a group of young players who have a shot at making an early impact. Semler is happy to have them learn and grow while being immersed into a winning culture.
“When that (veteran) group starts doing tee work you can just see them working with a purpose – not fast, not slow,” Semler said. “Every swing they take has really got a purpose. Then you look at a freshman and they don’t know how to do that yet or they don’t have the confidence to do that yet. These older kids are trying to show them how to slow down and how this is done here. You can see that maturity level and the confidence.”
Moore figures to log the lion’s share of innings in the circle, but the depth of the staff has improved. In her first exposure to college softball, Zoe Flores went 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA over 24.2 innings in 2020. Moore and Flores will be the 1-2 pitchers with Ashley Evans and freshmen Jerzi Rowe and Brooke Townsend also in line to take the ball when called upon. The pitchers have been overseen by assistant Alan Moore, the father of Camry.
Opposing GPAC coaches seem to be aware of the talent Concordia has on board. The Bulldogs landed at No. 2 in the GPAC preseason ranking and received votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll. GPAC rival Morningside begins the campaign ranked 20th nationally. Concordia could very well end an NAIA top 25 drought that has lasted since 1998. The program is also itching to get back to the national tournament as it did in 2014 and 2015.
“I honestly think we can be at the top of our conference if everybody dials in,” Haro said. “I talked a lot about the name game. I feel like at times that hurts us – worrying about who’s on the other side and changing our game to match theirs. If we continue to play our game and trust the work we put in we’ll be successfully. We basically just go out there and have fun. If everybody takes their role and plays their role I think we’ll be very successful.”
Semler says he’s glad his pitchers won’t have to face this Bulldog offense, which averaged more than 8.0 runs per game during the 12-2 stretch in 2020. The main focus at the moment has been placed upon solidifying the third starting outfield spot and the first base situation.
Said Semler, “When you look at the GPAC, there’s talent and there are teams that can play. We stack up right with them. I feel like those games are going to be such intense and well-played games. I really can’t wait to see this team go out and execute and play against some of the best teams.”
Concordia is slated to open the season on Saturday, Feb. 13 with a doubleheader at Ottawa University (Kan.). Despite the COVID-19 situation, Semler put together a fairly normal schedule (other than the lack of spring trip to Arizona or Florida). One of the highlights of the nonconference slate will be a doubleheader at perennial power Oklahoma City University, ranked fourth in the NAIA poll.
Schedule adjusted, opener moved to Feb. 23
February 18, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Due to cold and wintry conditions, the Concordia University Softball program has again pushed back the start of the 2021 season. Games scheduled for this weekend (Feb. 20-21) have been postponed. The team’s doubleheader at Benedictine College (Kan.) will now take place on Tuesday, Feb. 23 instead of this Sunday. The twin bill slated for Saturday at University of Saint Mary (Kan.) has been postponed and a makeup date is to be determined.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad had originally hoped to begin the season at Ottawa University (Kan.) on Feb. 13. That doubleheader was postponed due to frigid temperatures. The two sides may end up meeting up at some point yet this season, although a makeup has not been announced. A year ago, the Bulldogs waited until Feb. 29 to begin the season at Kansas Wesleyan University.
Tuesday’s doubleheader in Atchison, Kan., will be streamed live by Benedictine at the following URL: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ben/. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT. The Ravens will also be opening their season on Tuesday. Benedictine went 8-7 during the shortened 2020 season. Additionally, Concordia is slated to play a doubleheader at Bethany College (Kan.) on Sunday, Feb. 28.
How to follow the Dawgs at Benedictine
February 22, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After having a series of games either canceled or postponed, the Concordia University Softball team will begin its 2021 campaign on Tuesday (Feb. 23) at Benedictine College (Kan.) with a noon doubleheader. The Ravens play their home games at Benedictine Softball Field on campus in Atchison, Kan. Fans will not be permitted to attend the games.
Benedictine will offer a live stream at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ben/. Live stats will be available via Dakstats.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad is also slated to play at Bethany College (Kan.) on Sunday. Please follow@CUNEathletics on Twitter for updates on live coverage.
Moore, Rowe fire gems in season opening sweep
February 23, 2021
ATCHISON, Kan. – Quality pitching performances from Camry Moore and Jerzi Rowe and timely hitting led to a doubleheader sweep for the Concordia University Softball team as it opened up the 2021 season at Benedictine College on Tuesday (Feb. 23) afternoon. In both ends of the twin bill, the Bulldogs managed to hold off rallies by the Ravens. Concordia won game 1, 6-4, before taking game 2, 3-2, in eight innings.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s program had not played an official game in 348 days due to having the 2020 campaign cut short. A veteran Bulldog team has high hopes for what is possible this spring.
“It was so nice just to be back and playing,” Semler said. “You appreciate the little things like watching them take BP and infield-outfield before a game. It had been so long so they were really excited to play. We didn’t hit the ball all that well, but our pitchers were dominant today. Camry was just rolling and Jerzi was very close to a shutout. It was priceless to see her smile coming out of the circle.”
Moore dominated the like ace she is while recording a career high 15 strikeouts in the season opener. She also homered in game 1 and then proceeded to put out the fire in the bottom of the eighth of game 2. The Crete High School product collected a win and a save. Moore, Jenessa Jarvis and Kylee Nixon each delivered a home run a piece on the day.
In the opener, Moore fired all seven innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks. The game remained scoreless until Moore’s solo blast in the top of the fourth. Concordia later scored via Tori Homolka’s two-run double in the sixth, Hhana Haro’s two-run single in the seventh and with the help of a Benedictine miscue. The Ravens (0-2) cut into a 6-2 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the seventh before Moore ended the game with strikeout No. 15.
The capper saw even more drama unfold in the late innings. After Benedictine forced extra innings with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Nixon emerged with a clutch homer that provided a 3-2 lead in the eighth. It was a white knuckler in the bottom half when the Ravens put runners on second and third with only one out. Moore was summoned to get the final two outs. Fittingly, the doubleheader concluded with Moore notching her 16th strikeout of the day.
“She was dealing today,” Semler said. “Her movement was great. She’s so smart and she just kept pushing the ball farther out and farther out. There was nothing they could do but swing at it. She’s a gamer. She knows what to do out there when people are struggling against her.”
Six Bulldogs collected exactly two hits apiece on Tuesday: Haro, Homolka, Regan Karel, Moore, Nixon and Allysia Thayer. Nixon also doubled in game 1 and scored two runs on the day. Both teams were credited with 14 hits over the course of the doubleheader.
It was a fine collegiate debut in the circle for Rowe, who covered 7.1 innings in game 2. She scattered eight hits and two walks while posting nine strikeouts. The duo of Moore and Rowe combined for 25 strikeouts in 15 innings of work. Only the Blair Shanks two-run double in the seventh inning prevented Rowe from a shutout.
A member of the Heart of America Athletic Association, Benedictine went 8-7 last season and 29-16 in 2019. The Ravens got complete game pitching efforts on Tuesday from Abby Pressgrove and Alex Gilhamm.
The Bulldogs will be back in the state of Kansas on Sunday for a doubleheader at Bethany College. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. CT from Lindsborg. The Swedes have yet to begin their 2021 season.
Brown, Nixon swing hot bats, power wins over Bethany
February 28, 2021
LINDSBORG, Kan. – Brena Brown and Kylee Nixon starred with the bat while Jerzi Rowe fired a five-inning shutout as part of a doubleheader sweep at Bethany College (Kan.) on a chilly and windy Sunday (Feb. 28). The Concordia University Softball team won by scores of 5-4 and 10-0 (five innings) in action in Lindsborg, Kan. The Swedes are in the midst of hosting GPAC opponents on four-straight days.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad has started 2021 with a spotless 4-0 record that includes a pair of wins at Benedictine College (Kan.). Dating back to last season, the program has won 16 of its last 18 games.
“What I loved about the first game is we fought through some adversity,” Semler said. “We jumped out and took a lead and they came back. Just like the other day at Benedictine, we had to hold them with runners in scoring position. They had their best hitter up and we got out of that jam – that was huge. We hit the ball really well, sometimes it was into the teeth of that wind. Overall we hit the ball hard.”
The first three games of the season have all turned into nail-biters. Game 1 on Sunday tightened up in the late innings when Bethany pushed across two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to cut into what had been a 5-1 Bulldog lead. With Concordia holding a tenuous 5-4 advantage and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, ace pitcher Camry Moore coaxed two groundouts (the first resulted in a force out at home) to end the threat. Moore then completed the game with a scoreless seventh.
Game 2 was a much different story. Brown and Nixon both hammered out three hits in the run-rule blowout. Concordia built a commanding lead by scoring two runs in the first and five in the second. The outburst in the second featured a two-run triple by Brown, an RBI double by Jenessa Jarvis and an RBI single by Nixon. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
It was plenty of run support for the freshman Rowe, who has been sensational in her first two collegiate starts. In the five-inning shutout of Bethany, Rowe allowed only one hit and one walk while recording seven strikeouts. Semler has a lot of confidence in the pitching combination of Moore and Rowe.
“She’s looked really, really good,” Semler said of Rowe. “I’m excited about her composure as a freshman. She struck out their leadoff hitter on three-straight pitches and I think that set the tone. She’s just lights out right now and that’s great to see.”
Moore finished with eight strikeouts and two earned runs allowed in game 1. She also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in that first contest. As a team, Concordia collected 19 hits on the day. Nixon went 5-for-8 with three runs and two RBIs while Brown went 4-for-5 with two runs, two doubles and a triple. Meanwhile, Caitlyn McGarvie went 3-for-7 with a run and an RBI and three Bulldogs notched exactly two hits apiece.
Bethany (2-4) has played each of its first six games against GPAC opponents. The Swedes split doubleheaders with Mount Marty and Hastings. Bethany is also scheduled to welcome Northwestern to Lindsborg for a twin bill on Monday.
Next up is the Friends University Invitational in Wichita, Kan., where the Bulldogs will play two games each day from March 5-7. That stretch begins on Friday with matchups against Tabor College (Kan.) and University of Saint Mary (Kan.). Concordia is also scheduled to play road doubleheaders on March 9 and 10 as part of a hectic week of spring break.
Follow the Dawgs at the Friends Invitational
March 4, 2021
Stop No. 1 on the spring break journey for Concordia University Softball will be Wichita, Kan., for the Friends University Invitational Friday through Sunday (March 5-7). The Bulldogs will play twice each day of the event. The invite will be staged at Two Rivers Youth Complex in Wichita. Fan attendance is limited to two fans per player on each team.
Friends plans to put out live stats for each game of the event. Only games on Field 5 of the complex will include a live video stream. For live coverage, view the Friends streaming platform at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/friends/.
Concordia will also be in action March 9, 10, 12 and 13 as part of a busy spring break of softball. Check the team schedule page for more details.
Concordia at Friends Invite:
Friday, March 5
2 p.m. vs. Tabor College (Kan.), Field 2
6 p.m. vs. University of Saint Mary (Kan.), Field 2
Saturday, March 6
10 a.m. vs. Avila University (Mo.), Field 6
2 p.m. vs. Bethel College (Kan.), Field 3
Sunday, March 7
12 p.m. vs. Friends University (Kan.), Field 5
2 p.m. vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), Field 6
Win streak pushed to six as spring break slate gets underway
March 6, 2021
WICHITA, Kan. – The day may have started a bit sluggishly, but the Concordia University softball bats came alive at the opportune time as a busy stretch of spring break action began on Friday (March 5). The Bulldogs opened up the Friends University Invitational in Wichita, Kan., by defeating Tabor College (Kan.), 5-2, before pummeling University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 9-0, in a run-rule shortened contest. Camry Moore, Regan Karel and Kylee Nixon each homered once apiece on the day.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad has moved to 6-0 this season with all six wins coming against opponents from the state of Kansas. Moore’s three-run blast in the first game on Friday supplied the spark Concordia needed.
“If Camry doesn’t do that and we don’t win that game, our mental thoughts after that would have been rough,” Semler said. “That was a huge hit and pushed us into game two. I think in a tight game maybe our hitters tried to do too much. We seemed to get more comfortable in the second game and swung the bats like they know how to do. When they do that, good things happen.”
The Bulldogs may have learned a lesson about overlooking an opponent such as Tabor (currently 1-10 this season). Moore’s three-run homer in the top of the seventh broke a 2-2 tie and eased some of the frustration that had built throughout the game. Winning pitcher Jerzi Rowe made it a smooth bottom of the seventh by firing a 1-2-3 frame to close the deal.
The second game was a different story. Concordia put up four runs in the second and five in the third to make Moore’s life in the circle rather stress free. Three Bulldogs collected three hits against Saint Mary pitching: Karel (2-for-2), Jenessa Jarvis (2-for-3) and Nixon (2-for-3). Karel and Nixon both went deep in the bottom of the third while contributing to the rout. Karel scored two runs and drove in three while Jarvis and Nixon both notched two RBIs. Tori Homolka began the bottom of the third with a triple.
The Spire bats struggled to make contact against Moore, who piled up nine strikeouts in a five-inning shutout. She worked around four hits and one walk. Brooke Townsend started in the circle in the first game and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk. Rowe tossed the final 3.2 innings and recorded six strikeouts without conceding a run.
Jarvis led the team in total hits for the day with three. Six Bulldogs picked up exactly two hits on Friday. As a team, Concordia has slugged six home runs in six games. Moore and Nixon have left the yard twice apiece in 2021.
The Friends Invite schedule for the Bulldogs can be viewed below. All contests are being held at Two Rivers Youth Complex in Wichita. Saturday’s games will not be streamed live, but live stats can be followed via this link: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/friends/.
Concordia at Friends Invite:
Friday, March 5
def. Tabor College (Kan.), 5-2
def. University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 9-0 | 5 inn.
Saturday, March 6
10 a.m. vs. Avila University (Mo.), Field 6
2 p.m. vs. Bethel College (Kan.), Field 3
Sunday, March 7
12 p.m. vs. Friends University (Kan.), Field 5
2 p.m. vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), Field 6
Bulldogs bounce back from first blemish, run-rule Bethel
March 6, 2021
WICHITA, Kan. – On three-straight game days, the Concordia University Softball team has followed a pattern of playing a tight first game before blowing out its opponent in game two. That script continued on Saturday (March 6) in Wichita, Kan., where the Bulldogs finally suffered a defeat. They let a 3-0 lead slip away in a 4-3 loss to Avila University (Mo.). Concordia regrouped in the afternoon with a 9-0 blowout of Bethel College (Kan.).
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad has won three of four at the ongoing Friends University Invitational. The Bulldogs (7-1) have beaten three opponents by the run rule this season.
“We’re going through the motions against some teams,” Semler said. “You can’t win every close game. We had second and third with nobody out and down one – and they got three of our best hitters to pop up in the infield. We had a pretty decent meeting after that game and switched up the lineup a little bit and went after Bethel. We’re seeing teams so far that we feel like we should handle if we play up to our ability. We have some things we still need to work on and we still are trying to find a lineup that flows like we want it to.”
After the bats went surprisingly quiet over the final six innings of Saturday’s first game, Concordia broke out with three runs apiece in the second, third and fifth innings while pouring it on Bethel. Jenessa Jarvis and Kylee Nixon both homered in the victory. Jarvis (2-for-2 with two runs and a walk) was one of five Bulldogs with two or more hits. The following teammates all went 2-for-3: Tori Homolka, Regan Karel, Caitlyn McGarvie and Camry Moore. Jarvis drove in three runs and McGarvie plated two.
Moore may have been able to go all day putting up zeroes while working in the circle against the Threshers. She covered three frames of the five-inning game and recorded four strikeouts with one hit and no walks surrendered. Zoe Flores then fired two scoreless innings to seal the win.
The Crete High School product Moore also went 4-for-6 with the bat on the day. She produced all three runs against Avila with a three-run blast in the first inning. Moore was responsible for both of the team’s two hits in the defeat. Even with star third baseman Hhana Haro still trying to find a groove, the Bulldogs have flashed plenty of power with 13 doubles and nine home runs through the season’s first eight games.
Said Semler, “When Hhana gets hot that will help us. It seems like hitting on this team is so contagious. When she gets going that will help us find that flow we’re trying to find.”
Avila entered the day at 4-6 overall while Bethel came into play at 2-7. Avila erased its three-run deficit by scoring one run apiece in the second and third innings and two in the sixth. Avila pitcher Madison McKinney escaped a key jam in the bottom of the sixth with her team nursing a one-run lead. Concordia put runners at second and third with no outs, but McKinney coaxed three consecutive pop outs to end the threat.
Freshman Jerzi Rowe started the first game in the circle and was tagged with her first loss of the season. Rowe worked five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and three walks. Brooke Townsend relieved Rowe and pitched two shutout innings.
Concordia’s stay at the Friends Invite will conclude after two more games are played on Sunday. The team’s schedule/results from the Invite can be viewed below. The 12 p.m. game on Sunday will be streamed live by Friends (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/friends/).
Concordia at Friends Invite:
Friday, March 5
def. Tabor College (Kan.), 5-2
def. University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 9-0 | 5 inn.
Saturday, March 6
lost to Avila University (Mo.), 4-3
def. Bethel College (Kan.), 9-0 | 5 inn.
Sunday, March 7
12 p.m. vs. Friends University (Kan.), Field 5
2 p.m. vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), Field 6
Concordia takes two in parade around the bases
March 7, 2021
WICHITA, Kan. – There was no allowing an inferior opponent to hang around on a windy Sunday (March 7) as the Concordia University Softball team completed a three-day stay at the Friends University Invitational in Wichita, Kan. In the day’s action, the Bulldogs totaled a combined 22 runs on 21 hits and nine walks while parading around the bases. Concordia earned run-rule shortened wins over event host Friends, 10-2, and Dakota State University (S.D.), 12-3.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad went 5-1 at the Friends Invite and has jumped out to a 9-1 record on the season. The Bulldogs owned the same record after 10 games in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
“We saw the team that I think we are and the team we can be offensively,” Semler said. “When Camry (Moore) is in the circle, I feel like the girls are looser and they seem to swing it better. I’ve coached other teams where when our ace was pitching we didn’t score runs because we didn’t think we had to. I feel like we’re at ease when she’s pitching and just go swing the bat. That’s really fun to see.”
Concordia put a thumping on a Friends team that had been 5-2 this season against GPAC opponents. The big blow of the game was provided in the third inning when Tori Homolka belted a grand slam to push the lead to 6-1. The standout shortstop went 2-for-4 and drove in five runs in the contest. Out of the leadoff spot, Kylee Nixon produced a 2-for-3 game that included three runs, a walk, a double and two RBIs. Nixon’s two-run double keyed a three-run fifth that enacted the run rule.
The combination of that type of offensive output and Moore and the circle is always going to result in a Bulldog win. She covered all five innings versus Friends and allowed one earned run on five hits. She struck out four batters without issuing a free pass. Moore (5-0 with a 1.63 ERA in 2021) is now 12-1 in her last 13 pitching decisions.
The second game of the day was never in doubt after Concordia struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first versus Dakota State. In a frame that included six hits, three walks and an error, Jenessa Jarvis rapped out a three-run double, Moore doubled in one and Homolka, Regan Karel and Brena Brown collected an RBI single apiece. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the second inning before Semler made wholesale substitutions. Jerzi Rowe (4-1) earned the win while throwing 3.2 shutout innings (two hits allowed).
At the top of the lineup, Nixon is swinging a particularly hot bat. The York native went 4-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBIs on Sunday. Not to be outdone, Jarvis (two hits each in four of the past five games) went 4-for-6 with two runs, two doubles and four RBIs. Homolka also enjoyed a 3-for-6 day while Karel and Hhana Haro both went 2-for-5. Catcher Allysia Thayer reached base three times in the first game via a single, walk and hit by pitch.
“Kylee is so good at seeing pitches and if you do get her out she makes such good adjustments at the plate,” Semler said. “She’s just so hard to get out and it was an easy call to put her at leadoff. It’s nice having Jenessa at No. 2 because she’s a great bunter. I think she likes it better there. I really liked what we did today. I think we’ll see similar lineups going forward.”
A much greater challenge is coming up on Tuesday when the Bulldogs will be at fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University (6-1) for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CT. NAIA Hall of Fame Head Coach Phil McSpadden has led the Stars to 10 national titles in 33 seasons leading a dominant program. Notably, Oklahoma City defeated 20th-ranked Morningside, 3-1, on Saturday.
Check the Oklahoma City softball web page for details on how to follow live coverage of Tuesday’s games.
Flores shuts down Stars in game 2 win over fourth-ranked OCU
March 9, 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Concordia University Softball program made a return to Oklahoma City for the first time since being assigned to that location for the opening round of the 2015 national tournament. While up against the NAIA’s most successful softball program in history, the Bulldogs recorded one of the most significant regular season wins in program annals. Concordia dropped the first game of the doubleheader, 4-2, before responding with a 10-7 victory in game 2 on Tuesday (March 9).
The win adds legitimacy to a hot start for Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad, which may own a national ranking of its own come Wednesday. The Bulldogs have moved to 10-2 overall.
“The reason I wanted to set this up was to get ready for the Morningsides and the Midlands,” Semler said. “We wanted to send a message that this is how good we can be and this is how good we are. I think that message resonated with our team tonight. To do this on their field really gives us confidence against anybody that we play.”
Four different Concordia hitters collected multiple hits in the game 2 win, but it was lefty pitcher Zoe Flores who emerged as the biggest story. She quieted an early slugfest after entering with one out in the bottom of the second. The native of Port LaVaca, Texas, proceeded to fire 5.2 innings of shutout ball against one of the NAIA’s most powerful offenses. The Bulldogs celebrated the win when Flores struck out pinch hitter Kelsie Dunlap to end the game.
This is quite obviously the brightest moment of the young collegiate career of Flores. She stymied a squad that averaged more than 8.5 runs per game last season.
Said Semler, “They are so fast, every one of them. Up and down their lineup, they can beat you. For her to throw all those zeroes on the board was just truly amazing … Zoe came in and made them swing at her pitches. It was like, we can’t take her out. We have to ride her.”
Oklahoma City (7-2) took a 7-4 lead to the fourth inning of game 2. Concordia evened up when Tori Homolka unloaded for a three-run blast in the top of the fourth. Then in the sixth, a series of Stars defensive miscues helped the Bulldogs push across the final three runs of the contest. The only hit of the frame was a single from Camry Moore.
The offensive standouts of game 2 included Homolka (2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs), Moore (3-for-4 with three runs), Caitlyn McGarvie (2-for-4 with an RBI) and Kylee Nixon (2-for-5 with two runs). Hhana Haro also notched a single and an RBI. The Bulldogs tagged OCU pitcher Shelby Cornelson for five runs on eight hits.
Concordia did not have the same success offensively against game 1 pitcher Christie Betker, who struck out nine and surrendered only two runs on four hits. The Bulldogs made some noise in the sixth when Moore tripled in a run and then scored on a wild pitch. Concordia failed to cut any further into what was then a 4-2 deficit.
In her first win of 2021, Flores allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three in her 5.2-inning masterpiece. In the opener, Moore (5-1) threw all six innings and scattered eight hits without a walk. She fanned two hitters and lost for the first time this season.
In the past 10 years, the Bulldogs have now defeated three top-10 nationally ranked foes (the other two were ranked No. 10). Concordia lost twice to Oklahoma City in the 2015 opening round and then dropped a game to the Stars to begin the 2016 campaign.
Oklahoma City has lost only on rare occasions under longtime head coach Phil McSpadden, who has led the program to 10 NAIA national titles. The Stars earned a 3-1 victory over 20th-ranked Morningside this past Saturday. During the most recent completed season (2019), OCU put together a record of 61-8.
The Bulldogs will remain in the state of Oklahoma for a doubleheader at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (10-4 overall prior to Tuesday action) on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CT from Bartlesville. Due to expected rainfall in Kansas later this week, the McPherson College tournament is likely to be adjusted. An announcement will be made if/when changes become official.
Moore earns two wins, Van Wey comes up clutch in sweep
March 10, 2021
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – A day after earning a win over fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University, the Concordia University Softball team got back at it with another doubleheader within the state of Oklahoma. Camry Moore earned pitching wins in both ends of the twin bill as the Bulldogs toppled Oklahoma Wesleyan University by scores of 13-0 (five innings) and 10-7. Concordia rallied in the seventh to win game 2.
Head Coach Shawn Semler has his team knocking on the door of a national top 25 ranking (currently receiving votes). The Bulldogs are 12-2 after 14 games for the second year in a row.
“It was nice to come out hitting the ball right away in game 1,” Semler said. “We hit the ball so hard up and down the lineup that they were overwhelmed. Camry threw well – they couldn’t get anything strung together. Game 2 we scored first again but had a couple of errors that put us behind. We tried to piece together innings three, four and five so we could get to Camry for the sixth and seventh.
“We brought (Julia) Van Wey back in to hit in the seventh because she’s been doing so well at the plate lately. She got down in the count, but I don’t think that bothers her at all. She dumped a double into the outfield for the game-winning RBIs.”
Van Wey’s heroics came with the scored tied, 7-7, and the bases loaded with two outs. Her double sent home Caitlyn McGarvie, Hhana Haro and Tori Homolka. That seventh and final frame had begun with the Eagles leading 7-6. McGarvie’s walk with the bases loaded forced in the tying run, setting the stage for Van Wey.
There was no drama in the first game. Concordia put the game away with four runs in the third and six in the fourth. Both Moore and Homolka supplied three-run blasts as the major blows to Oklahoma Wesleyan’s chances. In that first contest, Homolka went 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs while Moore went 3-for-3 with two runs and five RBIs. It was also a fine performance for Kylee Nixon (3-for-3 with four runs and two doubles) and Jenessa Jarvis (2-for-3 with two runs, two doubles and two RBIs). Meanwhile, McGarvie drove in a pair of runs.
Van Wey’s emergence lengthens the depth of an already potent lineup. Van Wey notched two hits in both games. She doubled twice in game 2 and plated five runs. Brown, McGarvie and Van Wey all produced two hits in the second contest. Eight Bulldogs recorded at least one hit in the nail-biter. Nixon tripled to lead off the game and scored on a sac fly by Jarvis.
Moore pitched six total innings on the day without allowing a single run. She scattered six hits in four innings in game 1 and then retired all six hitters she faced in game 2. Not surprisingly, Moore did not issue a single walk while running her season record to 7-1. Zoe Flores, Jerzi Rowe and Brooke Townsend also saw action in the circle on Wednesday.
The Eagles (12-6) had come off a doubleheader sweep of Briar Cliff on Tuesday. Oklahoma Wesleyan entered the day batting .391 on the season. Lindy Alexander (.548 BA with eight home runs) has been one of the NAIA’s best hitters so far this season. She went 4-for-7 on Wednesday.
Due to rain in the forecast, the upcoming McPherson College Tournament was shortened to just one day. That event will take place on Thursday in McPherson, Kan. Concordia is slated to play Presentation College (S.D.) at 3 p.m. and Friends University (Kan.) at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs will then have the rest of the week off from competition.
Spring break journey concludes with pair of wins in McPherson
March 11, 2021
McPHERSON, Kan. – Consider spring break a success for the Concordia University Softball team, which just completed a stretch of 12 games in seven days. On the final leg of the road trip, the Bulldogs ventured to McPherson, Kan., and defeated Friends University (Kan.), 4-2, and Presentation College (S.D.), 10-5, on Thursday (March 11).
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad went 10-2 on the spring break trip and now stands at 14-2 and just outside of the NAIA top 25 in the latest coaches’ poll.
“I think our team was tired, but no one said a word about it,” Semler said. “They didn’t say anything about being tired. No one complained about how many games we’ve played in a short time. I really appreciated that. They just went out and played. We don’t want to make a habit of getting behind like we did today, but it’s nice to know that this team is resilient and can come back and win games late.”
In the night cap with Presentation, Concordia trailed nearly the entire way after it allowed three runs in the top of the first. Camry Moore began the rally from a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the fifth when she tripled and scored on a sac fly by Tori Homolka. An inning later, the floodgates opened as the Bulldogs rattled off seven runs. Creighton Taylor got things started with a single and then back-to-back RBI hits by Kylee Nixon and Jenessa Jarvis tied it up, 5-5.
Later in that same inning, Regan Karel tripled in two more runs and Taylor came through again with another base hit that drove home Karel. Taylor produced two hits in that one inning. Hhana Haro also delivered a clutch two-out RBI single in the third to help chip away.
“I think Creighton starting the inning with that hit really energized the group,” Semler said. “She was kind of the unsung hero for us in game 2. Then Brooke (Townsend) settled us down and threw a good game in relief to help us win as well.”
Moore went all seven innings in the circle in game 1 and improved her record to a sparkling 8-1. A late offensive outburst provided Moore the run support she needed. An error made by Friends in the sixth inning sparked the Bulldog rally. Townsend emerged as the winning pitcher in the second game.
Concordia has begun a season at 14-2 for the first time since 2014. That particular squad wound up qualifying for the national tournament. Since the start of the shortened 2020 campaign, the program is an impressive 26-4.
Due to expected rain this weekend, the Bulldogs will have the remainder of the week off. They had originally been scheduled to play Friday and Saturday at the McPherson Invite. Next up on the schedule is a home doubleheader versus Mayville State University (N.D.) at 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday (March 16). Concordia has not played at home since April 27, 2019.
UPDATE: CUNE-KWU doubleheader postponed
March 17, 2021
UPDATE (5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17): The doubleheader slated for Thursday (March 18) at Kansas Wesleyan University has been postponed due to poor field conditions caused by heavy rain. No makeup date has been set at this time.
SEWARD, Neb. – Due to recent schedule adjustments, the Concordia University Softball team has been idle since finishing up its spring break trip with two wins in McPherson, Kan., on March 11. The Bulldogs canceled the home doubleheader they had scheduled with Mayville State University (N.D.) on Tuesday due to heavy rain. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad now looks ahead to playing next week following the postponement of the twin bill at Kansas Wesleyan.
Thursday, March 18 | 2 p.m. DH - POSTPONED
Salina South HS | Salina, Kan.
Live Webcast/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/kwu/
Fan Policy: Visiting fans at Salina South High School are being encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sit along the fence line (and avoid sitting in the bleachers). When Concordia hosts games, tickets will be sold at the entrance to the ballpark. Attendance will not be limited, but fans are asked to wear masks when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Semler’s Bulldogs have been knocking on the door of the NAIA top 25 after again receiving votes in the most recent national poll. That poll was conducted prior to Concordia earning a doubleheader split with fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University as part of the team’s spring break tour. Over spring break, the Bulldogs went 10-2 and moved their overall season mark to 14-2. This marks the first time the program has won 14 of its first 16 games to begin a season since 2014. Dating back to the start of last season, Concordia is 26-4 overall.
The lineup has been led by shortstop Tori Homolka, who is batting .423 with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and 19 RBIs. Four other regulars in the lineup are hitting better than .350: Camry Moore (.420), Kylee Nixon (.382), Jenessa Jarvis (.367) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.362). Moor paces the team in the power department with four home runs and an .840 slugging percentage. As a pitcher, Moore is 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. Moore owns a record of 15-2 in her last 17 decisions.
Kansas Wesleyan will come into play with a 7-7 overall record. The Coyotes have suffered most of those defeats (six) against GPAC opponents. Leading hitter Lauren Blue is batting .391 with four doubles, two triples, two home runs and seven RBIs. KWU is batting .291 as a team and owns an ERA of 4.74. Ace pitcher Carmen Angulo is 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA.
The Bulldogs hope to make their first home appearance next Wednesday (March 24) when Hastings is scheduled to visit for a 5 p.m. CT doubleheader. After Thursday, the only remaining nonconference action on the slate is an April 19 home twin bill versus York College.
GPAC play slated to open up with two home doubleheaders
March 22, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Rainy conditions wiped out both of last week’s scheduled nonconference doubleheaders for the Concordia University Softball team. Now the Bulldogs hope that wet weather to begin this week won’t impact this week’s scheduled opening of the GPAC season. Concordia is getting ready to host Hastings on Wednesday night and Northwestern on Saturday afternoon. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad last played on March 11.
This Week
Concordia (14-2, 0-0) vs. Hastings (8-11, 0-0)
Wednesday, March 24 | 5 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Concordia (14-2, 0-0) vs. Northwestern (14-6, 1-1)
Saturday, March 27 | 1 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Fan policy: Fan attendance will not be limited at Plum Creek Park. However, fans encouraged to wear masks and to distance themselves from other family groups. Admission can be purchased on site on game days.
By the numbers
· Five Concordia regulars are batting .350 or better: Tori Homolka (.423), Camry Moore (.420), Kylee Nixon (.382), Jenessa Jarvis (.367) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.362). Three of those Bulldogs have produced three or more home runs: Moore (four), Homolka (three) and Nixon (three). Moore is slugging .840 while Homolka (.769) and Nixon (.727) are both slugging better than .700.
· In the circle, Moore sports an 8-1 record with a 1.65 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. Moore owns a 15-2 record in her last 17 decisions. Semler has used five different pitchers this season, including Ashley Evans (1.1 IP), Zoe Flores (8.2 IP), Jerzi Rowe (31.1 IP) and Brooke Townsend (12 IP).
· On the NAIA national leaderboard, Concordia ranks 13th in runs per game (7.6), 15th in doubles per game (2.1), 17th in home runs per game (0.8), 18th in slugging percentage (.520), 40th in ERA (2.59), 44th in fielding percentage (.961), 46th in hits per game (8.9) and 50th in batting average (.322).
· The offense has been potent while two-time first team All-GPAC performer Hhana Haro begins to heat up at the plate. The numbers figure to trend positively for Haro, who owns a career .440 batting average with 35 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in 109 games. Haro was named the GPAC Player of the Year as a freshman in 2018 when she batted .494.
In the rankings
In the latest official GPAC poll (released on Monday), the Bulldogs remained at No. 2 behind Morningside. A new NAIA national coaches’ poll will be unveiled on Wednesday. Concordia has a strong case for being included in the top 25, considering its 14-2 record and signature victory over fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University. In the Massey Ratings, Concordia is rated as the No. 15 team in the NAIA.
The opponents
In the GPAC preseason poll, Northwestern was rated fifth while Hastings landed at No. 11. The Red Raiders have jumped out to a strong 14-6 start (same record during the 2020 season) and split a doubleheader with Jamestown over the weekend. Northwestern employs a strong 1-2 pitching combo in Kameryn Etherington and Samantha Ubben and has three hitters with averages above .400: Jennifer Boeve (.426), Emily Bosch (.417) and Jessica Mouw (.404).
Hastings will open the conference season on Wednesday along with the Bulldogs. Alyssa Carter is hitting .406 with 11 doubles while Mattie Hogrefe paces the Broncos with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Hastings has also had a layoff having last played on March 12 when it defeated Cottey College (Mo.) and lost to Dickinson State University (N.D.) – both in extra innings. The Broncos went 5-12 during the shortened 2020 season.
Doubleheader with Hastings postponed
March 23, 2021
The varsity softball doubleheader versus Hastings that was scheduled for Wednesday (March 24) has been postponed due to wet field conditions at Plum Creek Park. A makeup date is to be determined. The two sides are tentatively hoping to play on Thursday (March 25) in Hastings, if field conditions improve. A final decision about the games may wait until Thursday, in order to assess the field at Smith Softball Complex.
Bulldogs pummel Hastings, crush five homers to begin GPAC play
March 25, 2021
HASTINGS, Neb. – It had been exactly two weeks since the Concordia University Softball team last played in game action, but it was difficult to tell by the results. Kylee Nixon homered in the first Bulldog at bat of the night while setting the tone for two victories at Hastings on Thursday (March 25). Concordia muscled up for five home runs while winning by scores of 8-0 and 12-3 in a pair of run-rule shortened contests played at Smith Softball Complex (originally scheduled at Plum Creek Park).
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad sits just on the outside of the NAIA top 25 and now sports an impressive 16-2 overall record, which represents the best 18-game start to a season in program history.
It was a huge day for the likes of Regan Karel (5-for-5), Tori Homolka (4-for-5), Nixon (4-for-5) and Hhana Haro (4-for-6), each of which collected at least four hits and at least one homer apiece. The Bulldog bats stung the Broncos with big innings. Concordia put four on the board in the bottom of the fifth of game 1 (to enact the run rule) and then piled up nine runs in the second inning of game 2.
The break in the action did nothing to stop the shortstop Homolka, who has been wrecking the softball. In the night cap, she cracked a three-run homer in the second and then a two-run blast in the third while powering the blowout. In game 1, not only did Nixon lead off the bottom of the first with a homer, Haro and Karel rocketed two-run homers in the fifth to end the game early. Karel knocked in two runs in both ends of the twin bill.
Camry Moore enjoyed a fine day of her own in going a combined 3-for-6 at the plate with a pair of RBIs. She pitched game 1 and recorded a three-hit, five-inning shutout. Moore worked out of a jam in the fifth when Hastings put runners on second and third with nobody out. The Crete High School alum is now 9-1 with a 1.49 ERA. In game 2, Jerzi Rowe picked up the win while pitching in relief.
Seven Bulldogs notched at least one hit on the day. In the second game, Brena Brown went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double. Homolka led the way with five RBIs and 10 total bases as part of her continued hot hitting. This lineup only gets better as Haro heats up. The home run she belted was her first this season and 14th of her career.
This was also the start of conference play for the Broncos (8-13, 0-2 GPAC), who hadn’t had much luck getting games in lately either. Taylor Stuhr emerged with a solo homer in game 2. Hastings was picked 11th in the GPAC preseason poll.
The home opener has been delayed multiple times, but the Bulldogs now look forward to hosting Northwestern (14-6, 1-1 GPAC) at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Based on the most recent GPAC ratings, it will be a battle between the league’s second and fifth-rated squads. The Red Raiders began conference play with a split versus Jamestown. Fan attendance will not be restricted at Plum Creek Park (masks required).
First home games since April 2019 result in split
March 28, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – It had been a long time coming. Not since April 27, 2019 (a span of 701 days) had the Concordia University Softball program played official home games. While hosting Northwestern, the Bulldogs won game 1 in walk-off fashion, 4-3, before being stymied in game 2, 7-1. Wind gusts howling straight in from center field negated some of the strengths of a Concordia lineup that likes to drive the ball.
The losses had been rare for Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad, which stands at 17-3 overall (3-1 GPAC). Saturday’s loss in game 2 interrupted an eight-game winning streak.
“This isn’t ideal for us by any means, but we still need to get better at playing in these kind of (windy) conditions,” Semler said. “With how this field is located we’re going to have a lot of games like this so we have to figure it out and work on what we can control and can’t control.
“It was fun to be back at home and I thought we had a great crowd, as windy as it was out here.”
In the first contest of the day, hot hitting Tori Homolka helped put the first runs on the board with a three-run double in the third. Kylee Nixon (single), Jenessa Jarvis (walk) and Camry Moore (walk) were all aboard for the bases-clearing hit. The Red Raiders then rallied to tie the score, 3-3, in the fifth (aided by a two-run triple from Emily Bosch), setting the stage for a dramatic ending.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs loaded the bases via a Brena Brown single, Jarvis walk and Homolka single. With two outs, Hhana Haro hit a sharp ground ball to third that eluded the third baseman just enough to allow everyone to move up a base, including pinch runner Maggi Hughes with the winning run.
That made a winner out of Moore (10-1), who fired all seven innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two hitters. The second game was more of a struggle from a pitching perspective, though Jerzi Rowe was the victim of a flurry of infield singles by Northwestern. The Red Raiders (15-7, 2-2 GPAC) opened up a 5-0 lead with a four-run third inning.
Kameryn Etherington fired five innings in game 2 and got the win for Northwestern. Concordia did not record its first hit the contest until Nixon singled leading off the fourth. The lone Bulldog run came in the fifth when Haro doubled and then scored on an RBI ground out by Regan Karel. Impressively, the Red Raiders managed to hold Homolka without a hit in game 2.
Listed second among others receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll, Concordia will have a chance to grab some attention on Tuesday when it hosts No. 16 Morningside (22-3, 0-0 GPAC). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT from Plum Creek Park. The Mustangs swept the doubleheader the last time the two sides met – in April 2019.
Said Semler, “I think the atmosphere is going to be really good. There’s going to be an intensity that we’re going to bring and I’m pretty sure they’re going to bring too. Those are the kind of games it’s easy to get up for.”
Concordia-Morningside to go head-to-head on Tuesday
March 29, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – An early season matchup of the top two teams in the official GPAC ratings will take place on Tuesday as the Concordia University Softball team gets set to host 16th-ranked Morningside. First pitch from Plum Creek Park is slated for 5 p.m. CT. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad opened up conference play last week by sweeping a doubleheader at Hastings before splitting a home twin bill with Northwestern. The program had gone roughly 700 days between home games.
This Week
Concordia (17-3, 3-1) vs. No. 16 Morningside (24-3, 2-0)
Tuesday, March 30 | 5 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Fan policy: Fan attendance will not be limited at Plum Creek Park. However, fans encouraged to wear masks and to distance themselves from other family groups. Admission can be purchased on site on game days.
By the numbers
· At 17-3, the Bulldogs have their best 20-game record to begin a season in the history of the program. In recent seasons, Concordia has had strong starts in 2020 (12-2 when season was cut short), 2019 (16-4), 2017 (13-7), 2016 (15-5) and 2014 (16-4). The Bulldogs appeared second among others receiving votes in the NAIA national poll released last week. The program continues to seek its first top 25 national ranking since 1998.
· Shortstop Tori Homolka is smoldering at the plate. She went 6-for-12 (.500) with two home runs and eight RBIs over last week’s four games. On the season, the native of Swanton, Neb., is batting .438 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBIs and an .828 slugging percentage. On the program’s all-time lists, Homolka ranks second in triples (12), tied for fourth in home runs (17), eighth in batting average (.367), eighth in runs scored (93), eighth in stolen bases (26), ninth in doubles (31) and tied for 10th in RBIs (96).
· It was an encouraging sign to see third baseman Hhana Haro heat up last week. She went 6-for-13 with at least one hit in each game while opening up conference play. Haro homered in the first game at Hastings, marking her first of the season and 14th of her career. Like Homolka, Haro ranks highly on the program’s all-time lists. Haro’s 167 career hits rank seventh in school history (most among current players).
· Homolka (.438), Camry Moore (.419) and Kylee Nixon (.403) are each batting better than .400 on the season. Moore and Nixon also possess powerful bats having notched four home runs apiece and having produced slugging percentages north of .700 this season. In the circle, Moore is now 10-1 with a 1.67 ERA with 56 strikeouts and eight walks allowed in 58.2 innings.
· On the NAIA national leaderboard, Concordia ranks 13th in home runs per game (0.9), 15th in runs per game (7.3), 18th in slugging percentage (.524), 42nd in batting average (.328) and 45th in earned run average (2.77).
The opponent
Morningside has been a longtime powerhouse within the GPAC. Head Coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann entered this season with a record of 728-379 in 22 years leading the Mustang softball program. The Mustangs opened up conference play last week with wins over Dakota Wesleyan by scores of 7-1 and 8-2. Morningside boasts a potent trio of hitters in the form of Morgan Nixon (.447 AVG / 11 HR / 43 RBIs), Lexie Stolen (.431 AVG / 11 HR / 32 RBIs) and Ellie Cropley (.416 AVG / 8 HR / 25 RBIs). The team’s top pitchers have been Lisa Bolton (9-0, 1.13 ERA) and Katherine Wurtz (9-1, 1.81 ERA).
Looking ahead
Following Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Bulldogs will wait until Wednesday, April 7 to return to action. They will be at Doane for a 4 p.m. CT doubleheader on that date.
Homolka chosen as GPAC Player of the Week
March 30, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A hot start in conference play has resulted in shortstop Tori Homolka being named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Softball Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (March 30). Homolka is the first member of the Concordia University Softball program to earn the award during the 2021 season. The native of Swanton, Neb., has collected three GPAC Player of the Week honors in her career.
A junior in terms of athletic eligibility, Homolka has starred while batting in the cleanup spot in the order. In last week’s action, she went 6-for-12 (.500) at the plate with four runs scored, a double, two home runs and eight RBIs. Homolka belted two home runs in the game two run-rule victory at Hastings. On the season, Homolka is hitting .438 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBIs and an .828 slugging percentage. Among GPAC players, Homolka ranks fifth in RBIs, seventh in batting average, seventh in slugging percentage, eighth in total bases (53) and ninth in home runs.
On the program’s all-time lists, Homolka ranks second in triples (12), tied for fourth in home runs (17), eighth in batting average (.367), eighth in runs scored (93), eighth in stolen bases (26), ninth in doubles (31) and tied for 10th in RBIs (96).
The Bulldogs (20-3, 3-1 GPAC) will host No. 16 Morningside (24-3, 2-0 GPAC) on Tuesday (March 30) with first pitch of the doubleheader set for 5 p.m. CT.
Nail-biter, blowout both go Morningside’s way
March 30, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After carving out a 3-0 lead in game 1, the rest of the evening was a forgettable one for the Concordia University Softball team. Sixteenth-ranked Morningside invaded Plum Creek Park in Seward, Neb., and left town with wins by scores of 4-3 and 14-1 (five innings). A fiercely competitive pitching effort from Camry Moore kept the Bulldogs in it until the final out of Tuesday (March 30)’s first contest.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad slipped to 17-5 overall and to 3-3 in conference play. Concordia played at home for the second time in four days.
This was a chance for the Bulldogs to make a statement while up against the league favorite, but they couldn’t find enough offense in game 1 and never had a shot in game 2 after the Mustangs paraded around the bases for eight runs in the first inning. If there was anything positive that did come out of Tuesday, it’s that Concordia continues to prove it can play with just about anyone when Moore is operating in the circle.
The Bulldogs staked Moore to a 3-0 lead that stood at the end of three innings. A dropped fly ball plated the first run of the game and Kylee Nixon made it hurt even more with an RBI single. An inning later, Caitlyn McGarvie tacked on with an RBI base hit of her own. It was a fine day for McGarvie, who went a combined 3-for-4 at the dish.
Morningside responded with two runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings for the game deciding tallies. Morgan Nixon singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth. Moore did a nice job to limit the damage in stranding two runners in the fourth and also working out of additional potential trouble in the fifth. Allysia Thayer fired a rope to third base to pick off a Mustang runner in the fifth.
The Bulldogs managed to put two runners on base with two outs in the sixth, but a strikeout ended the frame. Morningside pitcher Lisa Bolton then fired a 1-2-3 seventh to close out game 1.
Game 2 was just plain ugly. The Mustangs sent 12 hitters to the plate during an agonizingly long top of the first. Breanna Tjebben belted a homer as part of an 18-hit performance by Morningside. Concordia got its lone run with the help of another dropped fly ball. The Mustangs did most things well on Tuesday, but the windy conditions (blowing in from center) gave their outfielders headaches.
The Bulldogs will have the rest of the week off from game action before playing at Doane next Wednesday (April 7). First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 4 p.m. CT.
GPAC grind resumes with matchups against Doane, Midland
April 5, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A pair of in-state GPAC rivals make up this week’s slate for the Concordia University Softball team, which has been idle since being swept in a doubleheader versus No. 16 Morningside on March 30. The Bulldogs will play at Doane on Wednesday before coming back home to host Midland on Saturday. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad enters the week with eight GPAC doubleheaders (and one nonconference twin bill) still remaining on the schedule.
This Week
Concordia (17-5, 3-3) at Doane (17-14, 4-2)
Wednesday, April 7 | 3 p.m. DH
Doane Ballfield Complex | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: Doane YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Concordia (17-5, 3-3) vs. Midland (17-6, 5-1)
Saturday, April 10 | 1 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Fan policy: Fan attendance will not be limited at other of this week’s game locations. However, fans are expected to wear masks and to distance themselves from other family groups. Admission can be purchased on site on game days.
By the numbers
· Concordia has had too much time to stew over last week’s pair of losses to Morningside. In game 1, the Bulldogs competed down to the final out as Camry Moore worked all seven innings in the circle. The Mustangs managed to erase a 3-0 deficit by putting two runs on the board in both the fourth and fifth frames. Game 2 turned into a nightmare when Morningside paraded around the bases for eight runs in the first inning. On a positive note, left fielder Caitlyn McGarvie went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the doubleheader. Meanwhile, Hhana Haro and Kylee Nixon notched two hits apiece in game 1.
· Concordia remains potent offensively despite the results last week. Three lineup regulars are hitting better than .400: Camry Moore (.412), Tori Homolka (.406) and Kylee Nixon (.405). Those three standouts have also supplied plenty of power with respective slugging percentages of .768 for Homolka, .721 for Moore and .703 for Nixon. In addition, third baseman Hhana Haro is heating up. Over the past seven games, Haro has gone 9-for-20 (.450) with a double and a home run at the plate.
· The trick right now is to find some consistency in the circle in games that Moore is not pitching. At times, Zoe Flores, Jerzi Rowe and Brooke Townsend have each provided quality innings. Rowe went 7.1 innings and allowed only two runs in the first start of her college career, Flores threw 5.2 shutout innings in an upset of No. 4 Oklahoma City University and Townsend put together a five-inning, one-run outing in a win over Presentation College (S.D.).
· Moore is the clear ace of the staff. So far in 2021, she’s pitched in 13 games (11 starts) and owns a 10-2 record to go along with a 1.92 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. Incredibly, Moore has issued just 26 walks in 253.1 career collegiate innings. Moore is 17-3 in her last 20 decisions and owns a career record of 29-12. As a hitter, Moore has batted .368 with 15 doubles and 11 home runs in 74 career games.
· Eight players in program history have reached the 100-RBI mark. Homolka (96) and Haro (95) are closing in on that milestone. In most key statistical categories, everyone is looking up at Mindy (Evans) Miller, the all-time leader in hits (227), RBIs (177), runs (169), pitching wins (83) and innings pitched (869). In her career, Homolka has batted .362 with 31 doubles, 12 triples, 17 home runs and 96 RBIs. Meanwhile, Haro has hit .440 with 36 doubles, 14 home runs and 95 RBIs.
The opponents
Doane has played in a large number of low scoring games while leaning upon ace pitcher Josie Schnakenberg, who sports a 2.28 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 92 innings. The Tigers are coming off a pair of loss at Midland (3-0 and 8-0) that occurred on Thursday of last week. Doane’s top hitters have been Kayla Miller (.363 BA, 4 HR, .560 SLG) and Shelby Downard (.341 BA, .9 2B, 4 HR, .598 SLG). Head Coach Jordan Olson’s squad owns GPAC doubleheader sweeps of Briar Cliff and College of Saint Mary.
Midland shared the 2019 GPAC regular season title with Morningside. Head Coach Mike Heard earned GPAC Coach of the Year honors in both 2018 and 2019. After dropping the first game of a doubleheader with Dordt, the Warriors have rattled off five GPAC wins in a row, including three by the run rule. Freshman Roni Foote has sizzled at the plate and is currently hitting .465 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. The team’s top pitcher has been Aliyah Rincon, who is 9-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 61 innings.
Looking ahead
A weekend road trip to the Dakotas is coming up April 16-17 when the Bulldogs will be at Jamestown (21-7, 4-2 GPAC) and at Dakota Wesleyan (8-14, 0-6 GPAC). Concordia will then have three-straight home doubleheaders.
Moore wins in hometown; game 2 suspended
April 7, 2021
CRETE, Neb. – Before darkness fell upon Crete, Neb., Camry Moore starred in her hometown while helping the Concordia University Softball team to an 8-4 win at Doane on Wednesday (April 7). The host Tigers owned a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth of game 2 when it was suspended because of the lack of light at the Doane Ballfield Complex. Seward native Regan Karel also delivered a three-run homer in the opener.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad returned to action for the first time since getting swept in a doubleheader by No. 16 Morningside on March 30. The Bulldogs moved to 18-5 overall (4-3 GPAC).
“We had lost our last three games so I was anxious to see how we would play,” Semler said. “We usually play really well when Camry is in the circle so I felt good about that. We weren’t hitting early and then Karel hits a three-run homer into the teeth of the wind. That was big time. Both teams hit some balls that were held up by the wind.”
Moore (11-2) fired all seven innings of game 1 and recorded 10 strikeouts. One of her few mistakes was a pitch that Megan Elliott parked over the fence for a three-run homer, tying the score, 3-3, in the bottom of the fourth. Moore finished strong with scoreless sixth and seventh frames.
The Concordia offense quickly responded with a five-run fifth. The scoring occurred on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Caitlyn McGarvie, an RBI single by Karel, a bases loaded walk by Brena Bown and then a two-run base hit by Kylee Nixon. Karel’s three-run blast had put the Bulldogs up 3-0 in the top of the fourth. She finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs.
Out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Moore went 3-for-4 with a run and a double as part of the victory. Hhana enjoyed a 2-for-3 outing with two runs and a double. McGarvie added a hit, a run and an RBI. Before the second game was suspended, Tori Homolka had notched a pair of hits. An error as part of one of Homolka’s hits scored the lone Concordia run in four innings of game 2.
Haro is really swinging it out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Said Semler, “She’s on a tear that is so Hhana-like. It’s so nice to have her swinging the bat the way she normally does. It’s kind of a microcosm of what she’s been doing lately. She’s seeing a lot of pitches and you feel good when she’s at the plate.”
In the circle, Jerzi Rowe got the ball in game 2 and had worked each of the four innings that were completed. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out one. The Bulldog offensive attack did a number on Doane ace Josie Schnakenberg, who was chased after 4.2 innings (eight earned runs) in game 1. The Tigers are currently 17-15 overall (4-3 GPAC).
Concordia will return home on Saturday to host Midland (17-6, 5-1 GPAC) in a doubleheader slated to get underway at 1 p.m. CT from Plum Creek Park. The Warriors are now receiving votes in the NAIA national poll, along with the Bulldogs.
Moore, Rowe shine in circle in split with Midland
April 11, 2021
By Toby Semler, Athletic Communications Intern
SEWARD, Neb. – In a midseason matchup of GPAC contenders, the Concordia University Softball team clashed against Midland in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon (April 11). After the Bulldog’s earned a 6-3 victory in game 1, game 2 quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel with the wind picking up and stifling any fly balls that left the infield. Game 2 ended with a three run seventh inning from the Warriors to propel them past Concordia by a score of 3-0.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s team moved to 19-6 on the season and 5-4 in GPAC play after the split. In the split, the Bulldogs showed some bright spots.
Said Semler, “I was so proud of the girls the way they came out and played in game 1 and answered – every time they scored, we answered. That was a good win for us.”
Coach Semler also noted that freshman pitcher Jerzi Rowe, despite the loss in game 2, gave the Bulldogs a performance to be proud of. “She did well, and it was fun for a freshman to do well in that game,” Semler said.
In game 1, the Bulldog’s got off to a hot start with a leadoff double from Kylee Nixon. She then stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly from Camry Moore. The Warriors answered quickly after being shut down in the first inning. They countered Concordia’s run with two runs of their own in the top of the second. In the very next half inning Concordia would bounce back scoring two runs off the bat of Julia Van Wey. This time the Warriors pushed across another run courtesy of three hits in the top of the third.
After trading blows in the opening frames, game 1 turned into a nail-biter with each team’s pitcher settling in. It wasn’t until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Bulldog bats would return to life. After back-to-back singles from Van Wey and Nixon, Tori Homolka broke the game open, hammering a missile up the middle to two runs. Hhana Haro then singled up the middle to score Homolka and give Concordia a 6-3 lead. From then on it was all business from Moore and the Bulldog defense who recorded the last six outs with little problem.
In game 2, it appeared as if both teams were feeling each other out. Both pitchers were firing strikes early and controlling much of the action. In the circle, Jerzi Rowe recorded four strikeouts while surrendering only six hits. The deciding factor of game two came in the seventh inning of a scoreless game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Rowe made a full count pitch that, likely would have gotten the Bulldogs out of the inning unharmed in less windier conditions. Unfortunately, the wind pushed a seemingly routine pop up near first base and out of reach of a diving Nixon. The Warriors went on to win the game, 3-0, with the benefit of three unearned runs.
After coming away with the split, the Warriors stand at 20-7 overall and 8-2 in GPAC play. The Bulldogs will return to action on Monday (April 12) in a continuation of the suspended game 2 from last week’s doubleheader at Doane. The contest is set to resume at 5 p.m. CT with the Tigers leading 3-1 in the top of the fifth.
Karel, Bulldogs rally to defeat Doane in completion of suspended game
April 12, 2021
CRETE, Neb. – The ending made the short evening of work worth it for Concordia University Softball. In a completion of a suspended game from April 7, the Bulldogs put together a furious seventh-inning rally and defeated Doane, 6-3, in Crete, Neb., on Monday (April 12). Entering the day, the Bulldogs faced a 3-1 deficit in the top of the fifth.
Officially, the game goes down as having been played on April 7, the day it started. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad also took game 1 from Doane, 8-4, as part of a doubleheader sweep. Concordia has improved to 20-6 overall and to 6-4 within the GPAC.
Both sides inserted their ace pitchers into the contest as Camry Moore took the ball for the Bulldogs and Josie Schnakenberg got the call for the Tigers. Schnakenberg held Concordia off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth frames before the drama unfolded in the seventh.
Down 3-1 in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs appeared to be in trouble when a Tori Homolka fly out was turned into a double play. With two outs, Concordia came through with six consecutive hits in a game defining rally. Caitlyn McGarvie tied the score with an RBI double and then scored the go-ahead run on Regan Karel’s double. Singles followed from Allysia Thayer (RBI), Brena Brown and Kylee Nixon (RBI) in chasing Schnakenberg from the pitcher’s circle.
The Bulldogs finished this particular game with 16 hits. Karel went 3-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI. Five of her teammates notched two hits apiece: Brown, Hhana Haro, Homolka, Jenessa Jarvis and Moore. In a return trip to her hometown, Moore fired the final three innings and earned the victory in the circle. The Crete native was also the winning pitcher in the first game at Doane.
The victory will lead into a weekend road trip up to the Dakotas. Concordia will be at Jamestown (25-7, 8-2 GPAC) for 3 p.m. CT doubleheader on Friday before playing at Dakota Wesleyan (9-15, 1-7 GPAC) at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Weekend journey to Dakotas up next
April 14, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Softball team will log plenty of miles this weekend with road doubleheaders on tap in Jamestown, N.D., and Mitchell, S.D. Heading into the week, the Bulldogs have 12 games remaining on the GPAC regular season slate. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad began this week by rallying for a 6-3 win at Doane in a game that had been started on April 7 and then suspended due to darkness. Concordia owns a mark of 20-6 overall.
This Week
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) at Jamestown (25-7, 8-2)
Friday, April 16 | 3 p.m. DH
Trapper Field | Jamestown, N.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Jamestown Stretch Live
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) at Dakota Wesleyan (9-17, 1-9)
Saturday, April 17 | 12 p.m. DH
Cadwell Park | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Dakota Wesleyan Stretch Live
Fan policy: Both venues will allow fans to be present. Fans are expected to wear face coverings when proper social distancing cannot be maintained.
By the numbers
· Considering the circumstances, the win at Doane may have been as thrilling as any so far this season. When play was suspended after four innings of game 2 on April 7, the Tigers held a 3-1 lead. That advantage stood until there were two outs in the top of the seventh. That’s when hitting became contagious. Hhana Haro initiated a string of six-straight hits with an RBI single. Regan Karel then delivered the game-tying RBI double and Caitlyn McGarvie followed with a go-ahead RBI double. For good measure, Allysia Thayer and Kylee Nixon added an RBI single apiece.
· The Bulldogs are nearly halfway through the conference regular season. At 6-4 in the league, Concordia strongly believes it can be better down the stretch. One factor working in favor of the Bulldogs is the fact that they have already played three of the four teams currently ahead of them in the standings. Concordia is situated behind Morningside (10-0), Jamestown (8-2), Midland (8-2) and Northwestern (7-3) and tied with Mount Marty (6-4).
· In conference games only, the leading hitter for the Bulldogs has been Hhana Haro, who is 14-for-31 (.452) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Seward High School alum Regan Karel has also been swinging a hot bat having hit .393 with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in GPAC games. Four other Concordia regulars are hitting better than .300 in conference play: Camry Moore (.387), Kylee Nixon (.382), Tori Homolka (.323) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.320).
· Moore continues to shine as the team’s ace pitcher. She has run her season record to 13-2 to go along with a 2.03 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 82.2 innings. On another encouraging note, freshman Jerzi Rowe fired seven innings without allowing an earned run in game 2 of the home doubleheader versus Midland on April 11. After Moore in game 1 of twin bills, Semler has often mixed and matched with the likes of Rowe, Zoe Flores and Brooke Townsend.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks fourth in fielding percentage (.959), fifth in runs scored per game (6.54), fifth in ERA (3.20), fifth in slugging percentage (.492) and sixth in batting average (.321). Individually, Moore ranks fourth in ERA (2.03) while being the stingiest pitcher in the conference in terms of walks allowed (1.02 per seven innings).
The opponents
Jamestown carries a nine-game winning streak into the week. In terms of strikeout stuff, there isn’t a more dominant pitcher in the GPAC than Kat Miska, who has racked up 152 K’s in 84 innings. She’s allowed just 11 earned runs in 14 appearances in the circle. At the plate, Morgan Geiszler has been the team’s most potent bat having hit .457 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 28 RBIs. Jamestown has a particularly impressive win on its resume in the 2-1 victory it captured over then No. 2 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The Jimmies still have Concordia, Midland and No. 14 Morningside left on their GPAC schedule.
Dakota Wesleyan has struggled to a 1-9 mark in conference play. The Tigers have a first-year head coach in Derek Lien. DWU has had difficulty preventing runs. It has allowed 195 runs (171 earned) in 166 innings pitched. The team’s top hitter has been Stephanie Gabel, who is batting .378 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 30 RBIs.
Looking ahead
The Bulldogs will spend the following week at home with Briar Cliff and Mount Marty scheduled to be at Plum Creek Park April 23-24. Concordia plans to celebrate senior day on April 24.
Weekend road doubleheaders postponed
April 17, 2021
Road doubleheaders that were originally scheduled to be played April 16-17 in the Dakotas have both been postponed. The Concordia University Softball team had hoped to play at Jamestown on Sunday (April 18), but inclement weather will prevent that from happening. The doubleheader at Jamestown has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 21 with first pitch at 1 p.m. CT. As a result of that postponement, Concordia and Briar Cliff have also agreed to push back their doubleheader from April 23 to April 25 with first pitch at 1 p.m. A makuep for the postponed twin bill at Dakota Wesleyan is has also been set. It will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.
View the updated schedule HERE.
Revised schedule features three GPAC doubleheaders for the week
April 19, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Due to inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances, last week became a light one for the Concordia University Softball team. The Bulldogs have not been in action since completing a suspended game at Doane on April 12. As part of a revised schedule, Concordia looks forward to GPAC doubleheaders this week against the likes of Jamestown, Mount Marty and Briar Cliff.
This Week
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) at Jamestown (25-9, 8-4)
Wednesday, April 21 | 2 p.m. DH
Trapper Field | Jamestown, N.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Jamestown Stretch Live
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) vs. Mount Marty (17-12, 8-6)
*Senior Day*
Saturday, April 24 | 1 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) vs. Briar Cliff (17-19, 4-10)
Sunday, April 25 | 1 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Fan Policy: Fans are allowed at this week’s venues. Per GPAC policy, fans are expected to wear masks when proper distancing cannot be achieved.
Senior day on Saturday: The program will recognize the senior class in between games of the doubleheader on Saturday. The following seven seniors will be honored: Hhana Haro (Garden Grove, Calif.), Tori Homolka (Swanton, Neb.), Jenessa Jarvis (Vail, Ariz.), Regan Karel (Seward, Neb.), Megan Klenke (Friend, Neb.), Jordan Metzger (Grand Island, Neb.) and Allysia Thayer (Rialto, Calif.).
By the numbers
· Considering the circumstances, the win at Doane (most recent outing) may have been as thrilling as any so far this season. When play was suspended after four innings of game 2 on April 7, the Tigers held a 3-1 lead. That advantage stood until there were two outs in the top of the seventh. That’s when hitting became contagious. Hhana Haro initiated a string of six-straight hits with an RBI single. Regan Karel then delivered the game-tying RBI double and Caitlyn McGarvie followed with a go-ahead RBI double. For good measure, Allysia Thayer and Kylee Nixon added an RBI single apiece.
· The Bulldogs are nearly halfway through the conference regular season. At 6-4 in the league, Concordia strongly believes it can be better down the stretch. One factor working in favor of the Bulldogs is the fact that they have already played three of the four teams currently ahead of them in the standings. Concordia is situated behind Morningside (13-1), Midland (10-2), Northwestern (10-4) and Jamestown (8-4).
· In conference games only, the leading hitter for the Bulldogs has been Hhana Haro, who is 14-for-31 (.452) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Seward High School alum Regan Karel has also been swinging a hot bat having hit .393 with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in GPAC games. Four other Concordia regulars are hitting better than .300 in conference play: Camry Moore (.387), Kylee Nixon (.382), Tori Homolka (.323) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.320).
· Moore continues to shine as the team’s ace pitcher. She has run her season record to 13-2 to go along with a 2.03 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 82.2 innings. On another encouraging note, freshman Jerzi Rowe fired seven innings without allowing an earned run in game 2 of the home doubleheader versus Midland on April 11. After Moore in game 1 of twin bills, Head Coach Shawn Semler has often mixed and matched with the likes of Rowe, Zoe Flores and Brooke Townsend.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks fourth in fielding percentage (.959), fifth in runs scored per game (6.54), fifth in ERA (3.20), fifth in slugging percentage (.492) and sixth in batting average (.321). Individually, Moore ranks fourth in ERA (2.03) while being the stingiest pitcher in the conference in terms of walks allowed (1.02 per seven innings). From a milestone perspective, Homolka (98 RBIs) and Haro (97 RBIs) are nearing 100 RBIs in their careers.
The opponents
Jamestown’s nine-game win streak ended with a pair of shutout losses at Midland this past weekend. The Jimmies boast one of the GPAC’s top pitchers in Kat Miska, who is 12-2 with a 0.94 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 89 innings. She sports national rankings of ninth in ERA and 11th in opponent batting average (.163). Morgan Geiszler (.455 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBIs) leads an offense that averages 6.9 runs per game.
The Lancers have come a long ways since the days when they struggled near the bottom of the league. As a potent offensive team, Mount Marty has been paced by Emma Burns, who has eight home runs and is slugging .900. Two of her teammates also have hit six or more homers: Karlee Arnold (eight) and Makenzi Rockwell (six). Top pitcher Maureena Vornhagen is 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA.
Within conference play, Briar Cliff has struggled to score runs (33 runs scored in 14 games). However, the Chargers have gotten big production from Alexis Westercamp, who is hitting .421 with nine doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs. The Chargers own an upset victory over No. 14 Morningside to their credit. Briar Cliff finished 6-16 in the conference in 2019 (last full season).
Looking ahead
Following this week, three GPAC doubleheaders will remain on the slate: at College of Saint Mary (April 27), at Dordt (May 1) and at Dakota Wesleyan (May 2). The GPAC tournament will get started on May 5.
Bulldogs and Jimmies split pitcher friendly twin bill
April 21, 2021
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Two low-scoring, swiftly-played games unfolded on Tuesday (April 21) as the Concordia University Softball team and Jamestown made up a doubleheader that had been scheduled for this past weekend. Aces Camry Moore and Kat Miska battled in a game 1 that was decided by a walk-off home run for the Jimmies (3-1 final). The Bulldogs responded to take game 2, 4-2, with the help of two RBI singles from Caitlyn McGarvie.
Still receiving votes in the NAIA national poll, Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad has run its record to 21-7 overall (7-5 GPAC). Concordia has played each of the four teams currently situated above it in the league standings.
“Game 1 was a classic pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference,” Semler said. “I thought Camry caught the corner of home on a play at the plate, but the call didn’t go our way. We score there and go up 2-1 it might play out differently. I love how we came back after a tough loss to get game 2. Jerzi (Rowe) threw great and gave us a chance to get our bats going and get a split.”
The Bulldogs led virtually the entire way in game 2 after a run came home in the top of the first as a result of a Tori Homolka single that was then misplayed in the outfield. McGarvie notched an RBI single apiece in the third and fifth innings. Also in the fifth, Regan Karel added an insurance run with a base hit to score Hhana Haro. Concordia led, 4-1, at the time.
Freshman Jerzi Rowe fired five solid frames in the second contest. She allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out two. Semler then turned to Moore for the final six outs. Moore faced the minimum in snappy sixth and seventh innings. The Crete native also threw 6.2 innings (complete game) of game 1, which ended with a walk-off two-run homer from Jenna Remenar. On the day, Moore surrendered just three runs in 8.2 innings of work.
The Bulldogs saw firsthand why Miska (13-2) has been so successful this season for Jamestown (26-10, 9-5 GPAC). She covered all seven innings of game 1 and allowed just three hits while recording seven strikeouts. Her lone run conceded came via a Moore RBI triple that brought home Jenessa Jarvis in the top of the fourth. Haro and McGarvie added one hit apiece in game 1.
Concordia had much better offensive success in game 2 when it pounded out 11 hits, including two each from Homolka, Karel and McGarvie. Haro contributed with a base hit and two walks. The 19 combined hits between the two sides in game 2 were all singles.
After a long road trip, four weekend home games are up next. The Bulldogs will celebrate the senior class on Saturday when Mount Marty (17-12, 8-6 GPAC) will be in town for a 1 p.m. CT doubleheader. Concordia will also host Briar Cliff on Sunday while wrapping up the regular season home slate.
Victorious senior day features well-pitched wins over Mount Marty
April 24, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Now’s the time to start earning doubleheader sweeps if the Concordia University Softball team is to make a move down the stretch of the GPAC regular season. The Bulldogs accomplished that aim on Saturday (April 24) while taking two from Mount Marty without surrendering a single earned run on the day. Concordia celebrated senior day wins by scores of 8-0 (five innings) and 3-2.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad will wrap up the home regular season slate this weekend with Briar Cliff also coming to town on Sunday. The Bulldogs have moved to 23-7 overall and to 9-5 within the GPAC.
“They were so good at helping me when I got the job,” Semler said of the senior class. “They really believed in me and understood what we wanted to do. Not only that, they took charge and they’ve never stopped doing that. It’s just such a fun group to be able to coach. We’re going to miss them – that’s for sure.”
From a pitching perspective, it was two non-seniors who got the job done on Saturday. Ace Camry Moore tossed a five-inning, two-hit shutout in a fast moving game 1. Both hits Moore surrendered were singles in a performance that also included no walks and three strikeouts. Then in game 2, Jerzi Rowe went the distance in a seven-inning complete game. The Gretna, Neb., native did not allow a single hit until the fifth inning of a masterpiece that saw her record seven strikeouts without issuing a free pass.
The Concordia offense did a good portion of its damage in the third inning of both ends of the twin bill. The Bulldogs managed to enact the eight-run rule in game 1 by scoring four times in both the third and fourth frames. In that contest, Moore went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, Caitlyn McGarvie knocked in two with a base hit and Kylee Nixon scored twice and delivered an RBI single. Concordia also took advantage of a dropped popup with two outs in the third.
In game 2, the runs were more difficult to come by, but standout third baseman Hhana Haro hit ropes all over the place. She went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and just missed hitting home runs in two of her at bats. The Bulldogs struck for each of their game 2 runs in the third inning, when Moore contributed a sacrifice fly.
“It was super exciting,” said Haro in describing senior day. “My parents came out. It was the first time they got to see me play on this field. Overall, we just wanted to get some wins today … I’m just trusting myself and the work that I’m doing off the field.”
It should be noted that the eight seniors who were honored between games are not all listed as seniors because no players were charged a season of eligibility in 2020. One such key player is Regan Karel, who went 2-for-3 in game 2. Haro and Tori Homolka have been especially impactful for the program as past first team All-GPAC selections.
Mount Marty (17-16, 8-10 GPAC) is a much improved program. The Lancers cut into what had been a 3-0 deficit in game 2 when Sarah Hart’s base hit drove in two runs in the sixth. Those runs went as unearned runs due to an error earlier in the inning. Mount Marty managed a grand total of six hits (all singles) on the day.
“We have some pretty lofty goals. We feel like we can win the games we have left if we go out and play the way we can,” Semler said. “The game is crazy sometimes and you never know. Our goal is to go undefeated the rest of the season and see where that puts us in the conference standings.”
Sunday’s first pitch between Concordia and Briar Cliff (17-21, 4-12 GPAC) is set for 1 p.m. CT from Plum Creek Park. The Chargers fell twice at Midland on Saturday.
Home regular season action concludes with split versus Chargers
April 25, 2021
By Toby Semler, Athletic Communications Intern
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Softball team, fresh off a home sweep on Saturday, took on Briar Cliff University on Sunday (April 25) in a doubleheader at Plum Creek Park. Behind Camry Moore, the first game ended by the run rule in five innings with Concordia winning by a score of 8-0. The Chargers took game 2, 5-3.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s Bulldogs concluded their home season today in the split with Briar Cliff. Concordia now stands 24-8 overall and 10-6 in the GPAC. Currently, the Bulldogs come in at fifth in the GPAC sitting behind No. 11 Morningside, Midland, Jamestown and Northwestern.
While the first game may have been everything Bulldog fans could’ve hoped for, the second game was a nail-biter down to the final out. Semler is optimistic about how his lineup will come together down the stretch. Said Semler, “Even in that second game, we stranded ten runners and we just haven’t had good at bats with some of the kids that are traditionally really good for us.”
In game 1, the Bulldogs got off to a bit of a slow start, being held scoreless in the first two innings – but in the bottom of the third they got hot. Concordia scored four runs in that half inning on six hits, including an RBI triple from Janessa Jarvis and a run-scoring double apiece by Hhana Haro and Camry Moore. The scoring didn’t end there for the Bulldogs as they tacked on with four more runs in the fourth (Tori Homolka drove in three of them with a double) while earning the run-rule victory over the Chargers. In the circle, Moore and Zoe Flores combined to limit Briar Cliff to just two hits. Moore also fired a five-inning shutout on Saturday.
Early in game 2 the Bulldogs looked as if their bats had not cooled down. After Kylee Nixon reached on an error in the first, a single up the middle from Haro put Concordia ahead 1-0. In the very next inning freshman catcher Brenna Brown left the yard for her first collegiate homer, putting the Bulldogs up by two – but the script was quickly flipped on freshman pitcher Jerzi Rowe as the fourth inning rolled around and the Charger bats came to life. Briar Cliff put up two runs of their own in the fourth to tie the game. Concordia would reclaim the lead in the bottom half of the fourth after back-to-back extra base hits from Caitlyn McGarvie and Regan Karel. Then in the sixth, an error, a few hits and a hit batter got the Chargers back in business. They tallied three runs in the top of the sixth inning to put them ahead, 5-3. The Bulldogs were taken care of quick in the sixth and stranded a pair of runners in the seventh to end the game. Mailee Jensen managed to retire Homolka and Haro with two runners on base, putting a halt to the threat.
Three road doubleheaders remain on the regular season schedule. Concordia will take on the College of Saint Mary (7-28, 2-16 GPAC) on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT in Omaha. The Flames fell twice at home to Dordt on Saturday.
Bulldogs looking to make a move in final week of regular season
April 26, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The final week of the regular season has arrived for the Concordia University Softball team. Road GPAC doubleheaders are set for Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday with the Bulldogs set to play College of Saint Mary, Dordt and Dakota Wesleyan. All three opponents are currently situated behind Concordia in the GPAC standings. With six games left to go, the conference tournament seeding remains unsettled.
This Week
Concordia (24-8, 10-6) at College of Saint Mary (7-28, 2-16)
Tuesday, April 27 | 3 p.m. DH
CSM Softball Field | Omaha, Neb.
Webcast: CSM Stretch Live
Concordia (24-8, 10-6) at Dordt (19-21, 8-10)
Saturday, May 1 | 1 p.m. DH
Open Space Park | Sioux Center, Iowa
Webcast: Dordt Media Network
Stats: Dakstats
Concordia (24-8, 10-6) at Dakota Wesleyan (9-21, 1-13)
Sunday, May 2 | 1 p.m. DH
Cadwell Park | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast/Stats: DWU Stretch Live
Fan Policy: Fans are allowed at this week’s venues. Per GPAC policy, fans are expected to wear masks when proper distancing cannot be achieved.
By the numbers
· There will be no margin for error if Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad is to claim a top two seed required to host in the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs (24-8, 10-6 GPAC) currently sit in fifth place in the standings behind Morningside (17-1), Midland (14-2), Jamestown (12-6) and Northwestern (12-6). In the most recent conference tournament (2019), Concordia landed at the No. 3 seed with a GPAC record of 15-7. The Bulldogs would need to win out in order to surpass that conference win total in 2021.
· Concordia went 4-2 last week a doubleheader sweep of Mount Marty sandwiched in between splits with Jamestown and Briar Cliff. The hot hitting has continued for Hhana Haro, who went 8-for-17 (.471) with two doubles and four RBIs on the week. It was also a fine six-game stretch for Camry Moore, who went 8-for-19 (.421) with six runs scored, a double, a triple and five RBIs. As a pitcher, she posted a 1.42 ERA and walked only one batter in 19.2 innings. Moore fired a five-inning, three-hit shutout against Mount Marty.
· Both Haro and Tori Homolka surpassed 100 career RBIs over the weekend (Homolka now at 103 and Haro at 101). They are the ninth and 10th players in program history to drive in 100 runs. Mindy (Evans) Miller remains the school’s all-time leader with 177 career RBIs. A hot run down the stretch could put Haro over the 200-hit mark for her career. She currently has 183 hits to her credit. Only Miller (227) and Clarissa Eloge (208) have reached that total in program history.
· The combination of Moore and Jerzi Rowe did not allow a single earned run in the doubleheader versus Mount Marty. Rowe fired a seven-inning complete in which she allowed two unearned runs on four hits and no walks. She also notched seven strikeouts. On the season, Moore is 15-3 with a 1.92 ERA and 87 strikeouts (only 13 walks) in 102.1 innings. Rowe moved to 7-3 with a 4.00 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 63 innings. Together, Moore and Rowe have combined to cover 165.1 of 201.2 innings in the circle.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks first in fielding percentage (.963), first in fewest walks allowed per game (1.28), fourth in earned run average (2.92), fourth in runs per game (6.16) and fifth in batting average (.320).
The opponents
College of Saint Mary is 2-16 in conference play with the victories coming over Hastings and Briar Cliff. The team’s top hitter has been Alexis Howe, who is batting .336 with eight doubles, four home runs and 15 RBIs. In conference games only, the Flames have been outscored by a combined total of 137-61. Pitcher Abby Straight has started 21 of the team’s 35 games in the circle. She is 7-14 with a 5.80 ERA in 117 innings.
Dordt is coming off a doubleheader sweep at College of Saint Mary. The Defenders are still trying to secure a spot in the eight-team GPAC tournament. Dordt has a solid pitching combo in Abby Kraemer (10-8, 3.06 ERA) and Rachel Evavold (7-8, 3.44 ERA). Evavold is also a strong hitter, who is batting .336 with 10 doubles and three home runs. The Defenders are scheduled to play Briar Cliff and Waldorf University (Iowa) prior to taking on Concordia.
Dakota Wesleyan’s lone GPAC win came over Mount Marty in the second game of the twin bill. The Tigers have been limited to 45 runs in 14 conference games this season. Stephanie Gabel has been a standout having batted .350 with 10 doubles and four home runs. The team ERA currently stands at 7.22. DWU will need to win a lot in the final week of the regular season in order to have a chance to qualify for the GPAC tournament.
Looking ahead
The GPAC tournament will play out May 5-6 and 8. The top two seeds will earn the right to host separate pods of the tournament.
Flores shines in game 2 win at CSM
April 28, 2021
OMAHA, Neb. – The Concordia University softball team took on the College of Saint Mary Flames in a doubleheader on Tuesday (April 27) in Omaha and came away with a split. The Bulldogs, despite a much higher perch in the standings, surrendered three early runs in game 1, leading to a 5-4 loss. They rebounded in game 2, capturing a 6-3 victory.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad is now 25-9 overall and 11-7 in the GPAC. The Bulldogs reside in fourth place in the GPAC following Tuesday.
The Bulldogs came out unusually cold in game 1, surrendering three runs in the first inning to a CSM squad that has struggled this season (8-29 overall and 3-17 in GPAC). Said Semler, “We started off kind of flat today, they scored three early on us and really didn’t hit the ball hard. We weren’t sharp and we struggled with their pitcher and started to press a little too late.”
Concordia began to mount a comeback in the fourth inning scoring a run of their own. They held CSM scoreless in the bottom half of the inning before the Bulldogs tacked on another two runs in the top half of the fifth. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as CSM added to their lead with runs in the fifth and sixth inning, stifling the CUNE attempt at a rally. Pitching wise, Moore threw five innings acquiring three strikeouts, with the last inning being completed by Jerzi Rowe, who added two strikeouts of her own.
In Game 2 the Bulldog’s started cold again; allowing two runs in the first inning. This time Coach Semler had a short leash on his pitcher as Zoe Flores came in and went to work. Flores pitched the remainder of the game, holding CSM scoreless up until the seventh. In the meantime, the Concordia bats went to work scoring two runs of their own in the third to tie the game. The Dogs would break the game open in the sixth thanks to a leadoff hit from sophomore Creighton Taylor. The Gretna native singled to right center sparking some confidence in the lineup. After a few walks, the Bulldogs traded outs for some more runs and going into the bottom half of the sixth, Concordia had a 6-2 lead. Flores would finish the game but not before surrendering a homer in the seventh. She responded to finish off the Flames and close out a 6-3 Bulldog victory while striking out five and allowing just the one earned run.
The Bulldogs will head on one final road trip to close their 2021 season playing a doubleheader in Sioux Center, Iowa, against the Dordt Defenders (19-21 overall 8-10 in the GPAC) on Saturday (May 1) before concluding their season on Sunday (May 2) with a doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan (9-23 overall and 1-15 in the GPAC). First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Haro, Moore fuel sweep of Dordt
May 1, 2021
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dissatisfied with splits in its two most recent doubleheaders, the Concordia University Softball team made sure to get two on Saturday (May 1). The Bulldogs rode the pitching arm of Camry Moore and the continued hot hitting of Hhana Haro to wins by scores of 5-2 and 7-6 at Dordt. Haro and Moore collected four hits apiece on the day in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad fell out of the running for a top two seed in the GPAC, but the Bulldogs (27-9, 13-7 GPAC) believe they can be a dangerous postseason team if they play up to their potential at the right time.
“We made a few changes (to the lineup) against College of Saint Mary and it kind of threw them off a little,” Semler said. “But we had become a little stagnant and felt like we needed a little push and wanted to do it before postseason. I think today’s lineup just looked a lot better and they understood why we made some moves. We hit the ball hard today, sometimes right at people. It was nice to see a lot of hits back-to-back against really good pitching.”
Other than a brief deficit in game 2, the Bulldogs played in the lead for the majority of the day. Haro set the tone by drilling a home run (15th career) as the first hitter of game 1. Haro also singled in a run as part of a two-run fourth inning. Moore helped her own cause with an RBI double in the third. Allysia Thayer brought home an insurance run with an RBI single in the fifth.
Five runs is typically enough to get the job done with Moore in the circle. The Crete High School alum fired a seven-inning complete game in the opener. She surrendered two unearned runs on three hits and no walks (three strikeouts). Moore moved to 16-4 and lowered her season ERA to 1.74 by the end of the day.
Moore wasn’t done yet. She helped spark a four-run outburst in the third inning of game 2 with a two-run single. Concordia’s final three runs of the day came in the fifth when Regan Karel cracked an RBI double and Brena Brown tacked on with a two-run base hit.
After Jerzi Rowe and Zoe Flores combined to pitch the first five-plus innings of game 2, Moore put out a fire in the sixth. Semler called upon Moore in the circle with runners at second and third, no outs and the Bulldogs hanging onto a 7-5 lead. She wiggled out of the jam and wound up earning her third save of the season.
Nine Concordia players notched at least one hit on the day. In addition to the four hits each for Haro and Moore, three Bulldogs picked up three hits: Jenessa Jarvis (3-for-5, two runs, RBI), Caitlyn McGarvie (3-for-6, two runs) and Van Wey (3-for-7, run).
As things stand, Concordia could finish as high as a tie for third in the final GPAC standings. If the Bulldogs can win twice on Sunday, they would accomplish that aim and would slot into the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament.
Said Semler, “There was a lot riding on our games today for both teams. We needed to sweep to keep our thoughts of getting the third seed and felt like we needed to know we can play two good games in a row. We will use tomorrow to work on a couple of things and then see what the matchup will be in the GPAC tournament.”
The 2021 regular season will come to a conclusion on Sunday with a doubleheader at Dakota Wesleyan (10-26, 2-18 GPAC). First pitch from Cadwell Park in Mitchell, S.D., is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Bulldogs wrap up regular season with blowout wins at DWU
May 2, 2021
MITCHELL, S.D. – A pair of run-rule affairs made for a snappy doubleheader in Mitchell, S.D., on Sunday (May 2). The Concordia University Softball team wrapped up the regular season by twice blanking host Dakota Wesleyan, 8-0, in six innings and, 9-0, in five innings. Camry Moore and Jerzi Rowe both threw shutouts while helping the Bulldogs build momentum heading into the postseason.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad also took two from Dordt on Saturday. At the close of the regular season, Concordia stands at 29-9 overall and at 15-7 in the GPAC (tied for third with Jamestown).
At the top of the Bulldog lineup, former GPAC Player of the Year Hhana Haro is smoldering. Said Semler, “I can’t remember the specific game, but I remember Hhana squaring up a ball and hitting a hard line drive and smiling because we had the true Hhana back. Since then she has been a force at the plate. This weekend she really jump started our offense each day. We got outstanding pitching from Camry and Jerzi.”
While scoring a boatload of early runs in both contests, Concordia never gave the Tigers (10-28, 2-20 GPAC) much hope. The Bulldogs put up seven runs over the first two frames of game 1 and then busted out for five runs in the first inning of game 2. Haro continues to be the catalyst in her new role at the leadoff spot. On the day, the third baseman from Garden Grove, Calif., went 5-for-7 with four runs, a double and a triple.
It was also a dominant weekend for Moore (17-4) in the circle. She fired nine innings without allowing an earned run in Saturday’s doubleheader. She then whirled a six-inning, three-hit shutout that included seven strikeouts on Sunday. Moore put an exclamation mark on the day by blasting a three-run homer in the fourth inning of game 2.
Jarvis (2-for-3, with two runs, a double and two RBIs) and Julia Van Wey (2-for-3 with a run) also added two hits apiece in game 1. In that contest, Moore, Jarvis and Kylee Nixon each collected a run-scoring double. Shelby Ziegler took advantage of a pinch hit opportunity and plated a run with a single. Caitlyn McGarvie added an RBI double of her own in the first inning of game 2. Tori Homolka tripled and scored a run in the third inning of the capper.
Rowe followed up Moore’s shutout with a five-inning blanking of DWU. The freshman from Gretna, Neb., surrendered only two hits and two walks while striking out three. Collectively, Moore and Rowe allowed just five hits (all of them singles) all day. The Tigers also hurt themselves with a combined five errors.
Haro has extended her hitting streak to nine games. During that stretch she has gone 18-for-33 (.545) with seven runs, four doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs and an .818 slugging percentage. She needs five more hits for 200 in her impressive collegiate career.
The Bulldogs will be the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament and will take part in the Morningside Bracket pod at Jensen Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa. The GPAC softball postseason will get started on May 5 with the double elimination format. Concordia will go head-to-head with Doane (25-22, 12-10 GPAC) at 10 a.m. CT on May 5. As the top two seeds, Midland and Morningside earned the right to host separate pods. View the tournament bracket HERE.
Said Semler, “I think we got our confidence back and this is the time we want to peak. I feel like we are starting to play really well. It should be a fun pool.”
2021 GPAC softball tournament preview
April 3, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Postseason play has arrived for the Concordia University Softball team, which has earned the No. 3 seed in the GPAC tournament. As a result, the Bulldogs have been assigned to the Morningside Bracket of the tournament. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad will be at Jensen Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa, for each of its games during double-elimination pod play. Concordia will begin the postseason on Wednesday with a 10 a.m. CT matchup with Doane.
2021 GPAC Tournament – Morningside Bracket
--Full Bracket
May 5-6 | Jensen Softball Complex (Sioux City, Iowa)
--Live Webcasts (available for all games) | Live Stats
Wednesday, May 5
Game 1 – (3) Concordia vs. (6) Doane, 10 a.m.
Game 2 – (2) Morningside vs. (7) Mount Marty, 12 p.m.
Game 3 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 6
Game 5 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, 12 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 4 p.m. (if necessary)
Fan attendance: Fans are allowed to attend the games at Jensen Softball Complex and are encouraged to wear face coverings when not able to maintain physical distancing from other family groups. Admission is $10 for adults/senior citizens and $3 for K-12. Only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· Concordia’s 2021 regular season was similar to the results the program put forth in 2019 when it finished with the same 15-7 GPAC mark and also slotted into the No. 3 spot in the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs never did get a chance to play conference games in the shortened 2020 campaign. Over three seasons as head coach, Semler owns a GPAC record of 30-14. Concordia moved up to a tie for third place in the final 2021 conference regular season standings thanks to an active five-game win streak that included doubleheader sweeps over Dordt and Dakota Wesleyan.
· Third baseman Hhana Haro has been sizzling at the plate. She will carry a nine-game hitting streak (at least one hit in 15 of 16 games) into the GPAC tournament. During that stretch, Haro has gone 18-for-33 (.545) with seven runs, four doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs and an .818 slugging percentage. The native of Garden Grove, Calif., will go down as an all-time great for the program. Haro recently surpassed 100 career RBIs and needs just five more hits for 200 in her time as a Bulldog. She’s also a career .446 hitter with a .657 slugging percentage.
· No player on the roster has been steadier or more consistent than Camry Moore. She leads the team with a .392 batting average and is coming off a fine week in the circle. Over last week’s six games, Moore earned two wins and a save and allowed just one earned run in 20 innings (0.35 ERA). Moore tossed a six-inning, three-hit shutout at Dakota Wesleyan. The Crete High School alum should be a strong candidate for first team All-GPAC honors. As a pitcher, she is 17-4 with a 1.66 ERA and has allowed just 13 walks in 122.1 innings. If that ERA holds, it would be the third best in a single season for a Concordia pitcher in program history.
· Seven Bulldog regulars in the lineup are batting better than .300: Moore (.392), Haro (.373), Caitlyn McGarvie (.352), Tori Homolka (.347), Julia Van Wey (.345), Jenessa Jarvis (.327) and Kylee Nixon (.312). Homolka is the team leader in RBIs (38) while Moore paces the squad in total bases (79) and slugging percentage (.658). Seven Concordia players have hit at least one home run on the season, including Homolka (five), Moore (five), Nixon (four), Regan Karel (three), Haro (two), Jarvis (two) and Brena Brown (one). In conference games only, Concordia has outscored its opponents, 115-72.
· The Bulldog Softball program has won two GPAC tournament titles (2007 and 2015). Since the championship in 2015, Concordia has twice reached the finals of pod play, but has fallen short of the GPAC Championship Series. In 2019, the Bulldogs also ventured to Morningside for GPAC postseason and were eliminated by the host Mustangs in the pod final. The GPAC tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the national tournament.
Morningside Bracket opponents
(2) Morningside – The Mustangs are ranked 11th in the NAIA coaches’ poll and held onto first place in the GPAC for most of the regular season. Their fortunes flipped on April 27 when Midland swept them in a doubleheader. Back on March 30, Morningside defeated Concordia by scores of 4-3 and 14-1 in Seward. Despite a recent three-game skid, the Mustangs have the ability to win the GPAC tournament. Head Coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann’s squad has averaged 7.2 runs per game and sports an ERA of 2.19. Morningside has three particularly powerful hitters in its lineup in Morgan Nixon, Lexie Stolen and Ellie Cropley.
(6) Doane – The Tigers are back in the GPAC tournament after missing out in 2019. Doane has played a larger number of low scoring games while playing roughly .500 ball (25-22 overall) and leaning upon ace pitcher Josie Schnakenberg (13-12, 3.06 ERA). In the doubleheader in Crete, the Bulldogs tagged Schankenberg with 12 earned runs in 7.1 innings. The team’s biggest star has been Shelby Downard, who has recorded 14 doubles and 11 home runs at the plate and owns a 3.45 ERA in the circle.
(7) Mount Marty – The Lancers dropped back to the No. 7 seed in the conference after being swept in a doubleheader by Doane to end the regular season. Mount Marty boasts one of the league’s top hitters in Emma Burns, who is hitting .450 with 11 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs. Concordia managed to eliminate the Lancers from the GPAC tournament in 2019 and took two from them in the win bill back on April 24.
GPAC Championship Series
The winners of the Midland and Morningside Brackets will meet in the GPAC Championship Series on Saturday. It will a best of three series with game 1 beginning at 11 a.m. CT.
From different backgrounds, Haro, Homolka come together as four-year stars
May 4, 2021
Hhana Haro and Tori Homolka held two totally different viewpoints regarding the state of Nebraska at the time they finalized their college choices in 2017. Haro looked around, saw seemingly endless fields of corn and wasn’t sure it was for her. Meanwhile, Homolka grew up in small-town Swanton, Neb., and felt at ease with the pace and the surroundings at Concordia University, Nebraska.
Said Haro following her freshman year, “The first semester I was really homesick. I wasn’t sure if Concordia was the place for me because I was so far from home.” On the other hand, Homolka immediately felt like this was “an atmosphere that I could fit into.”
Now as seniors, Haro and Homolka both rave about the experiences they’ve enjoyed in Seward. Haro quickly made friends who helped ease her home sickness while Homolka found Concordia to be the fit she expected. Haro even learned to do what the locals do by working as a detassler in the summer and Homolka sure has come a long way since she nearly “burned down the dorms” as a freshman while making ramen noodles (an occurrence she tried to play off as if someone else did it).
As for the softball part of it, Haro and Homolka have been cornerstones of the program for all four years of their collegiate careers. Oftentimes since 2018, they have found themselves playing right alongside one another with – Homolka at short and Haro at third. When they graduate, they will leave behind a gaping hole on the left side of the infield.
Said Homolka, “Starting from freshman year we would play beside each other. It’s kind of funny because I remember when (former coach Todd) LaVelle would have me at third and Hhana at first. We would go to each other and be like, ‘I want to play first,’ and she goes, ‘I want to play third.’ So he switched the lineup. Ever since we’ve been playing by each other – short and third – we just know what each other is going to do. I feel like we just feed off each other, but there are lots of other girls who can get the job done too.”
It was a luxury for Head Coach Shawn Semler to take over a team that already had rising stars like Haro and Homolka (and others). A native of Garden Grove, Calif., Haro has hit a staggering .446 for her career and was the GPAC Player of the Year in 2018. She needs five more hits to become just the third player in program history to reach 200 for a career. Haro and Homolka were both first team All-GPAC selections in 2019. In her career, Homolka has slugged .597 with 63 extra base hits.
Considering their years at Concordia have aligned exactly, it will be difficult to think about this era of Bulldog Softball without recalling the exploits of the star duo.
Said Haro, “It’s been great. We’ve grown to be really good friends on and off the field. She and I put our trust in each other. It’s great having that person on the field you can always look to. I feel like we always have each other’s back.”
The two standouts were a bridge from one head coach to another, LaVelle to Semler, and will likely always remember the despair that was felt when the 2020 season was abruptly ended by COVID-19. Haro had her own bout with the virus prior to the opening of the campaign. That likely had something to do with a slow start to this season, but Haro has been red hot again with 18 hits over the last nine games.
Beyond the results on the field, Haro has found an identity and has grown to be a more resilient person. There were benefits to spreading her wings and flying away from home for college. Soon she’ll be back near home for graduate school at Cal State Riverside. “I think I’ve grown into my own person with not having my parents be there every step of the way,” Haro said. “I had to learn to grow by myself, be on my own schedule and be at a certain place at a certain time.”
When people talk about the special nature of Concordia, the special people that carry out the school’s mission and vision are often the focus. Homolka will cherish the relationships and connections made with teammates, coaches and professors. As an upperclassmen, Homolka has lived in a house with four of her best friends.
“Making the friendships I’ve had (has been most rewarding),” Homolka said. “I’ll also be able to take what I’ve learned on the field, in the weight room and in the class room into my future career as I hope to be a coach soon. I feel like I can take a lot out of it and learn how to love the game from that perspective.”
Haro won’t forget the memories she’s made with her friends. She and catcher Allysia Thayer became particularly close friends as college teammates. Said Haro, “I always thought about playing at this level when I was younger. I’m definitely going to miss it. As we’re getting closer to the end, those memories of traveling and being on the bus are going to stand out more than they would have.”
As of this writing, Haro and Homolka are getting ready to lead the Bulldogs into the GPAC tournament. Perhaps it’s fitting that Concordia must go through the Morningside Bracket and the longtime nemesis Mustangs in order to live out its national tournament dream. When this 2021 team plays to its full potential behind stars like Haro, Homolka, Camry Moore and Kylee Nixon, the ceiling is sky high.
This spring, the highlight has been a 10-7 upset of an Oklahoma City squad currently ranked No. 2 in the NAIA. Homolka delivered the big blow of that game with a three-run homer in the fourth. When Nos. 23 and 33 are on your side, you always have a chance to win.
Years down the road, the home runs, the defensive gems and the wins will fade, but not the relationships and shared moments of laughter and joy. Said Hhana, “The University has brought so many good memories.” Added Tori, “I am so glad to say that I will graduate from Concordia University.”
Bulldogs upset No. 13 Mustangs, maneuver into Morningside Bracket driver's seat
May 5, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Wednesday (May 5) marked the most thrilling day of conference postseason play for the Concordia University Softball program since it celebrated a GPAC tournament championship in Sioux City, Iowa, in 2015. The Bulldogs returned to that very location (Jensen Softball Complex) for the 2021 conference tournament and now have the upper hand in the Morningside Bracket thanks to wins by scores of 5-1 over Doane and 9-3 over No. 13 Morningside. Concordia had not beaten the Mustangs since 2017.
The 2-0 day means that Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad (31-9) will play in the finals of the Morningside Bracket beginning at 2 p.m. CT on Thursday against an opponent to be determined. The GPAC tournament features separate pods of four teams at both Morningside and Midland.
“The lightning delay (in the Morningside game) was excruciating because we were on a roll,” Semler said. “We wanted to finish it and get out of there. We were a little worried with how they started the sixth inning. Then Camry (Moore) shut them down and hit that ball so far out. We got those two back and we could breathe a little bit again. It was a great win – it was fun. We need to cap it off tomorrow. That’s where my thought is. We’ll enjoy it tonight, but we have to get our minds back on the job in front of us.”
As Moore tweeted after toppling Morningside, it was a “team win.” But the exploits of Moore are to be celebrated. The former high school state champion was a workhorse in covering all 14 innings in the circle on Wednesday. She also delivered back breakers with the bat when she belted a solo homer in the fifth and a two-run bomb in the seventh while burning Mustang pitching.
After being shut down through the first three frames by Morningside pitcher Lisa Bolton, the Bulldogs came alive in the fourth. Kylee Nixon produced an RBI single to score Moore to tie the game, 1-1. Two batters later, on her birthday, Regan Karel unloaded for a three-run blast to straight away center. Leading 4-1 at the time, Concordia never did look back. It even waited out a lightning delay of roughly an hour and 45 minutes before soaking up the victory.
Right off the delay, Moore allowed two runs in the bottom of the sixth, pulling the Mustangs within three (6-3). Moore (19-4) quickly made amends with the aforementioned two-run blast. Her pitching line read: seven innings, eight hits, three earned runs, no walks and three strikeouts. She relied upon error-free defense behind her to record outs on eight fly balls and 10 grounders. Moore also fired a complete game against Doane, surrendering five hits.
“These older kids on our team felt like we could play with Morningside,” Semler said. “We had the Oklahoma City win under our belt. We felt like this is our time. We didn’t see that invincible team anymore and had good at bats against their ace.”
While Karel and Moore had the big swings against Morningside, Hhana Haro keeps spraying bullets all over the ballpark. She went 4-for-8 on the day and extended her hitting streak to 11 games (while also pushing her career hit total to 199). Plenty of others contributed. Nixon went 3-for-6 with three RBIs on the day and Brena Brown crushed a game-tying homer against Doane. That blast ignited a five-run fifth that proved the difference against the rival Tigers. Julia Van Wey added two hits in the morning game.
In the double-elimination format, the Bulldogs have put themselves in the driver’s seat. Due to multiple weather interruptions, the Doane-Mount Marty game was postponed until tomorrow. In other words, Concordia’s opponent at 2 p.m. CT on Thursday could still be any of the other three teams in the bracket. The Bulldogs are one win away from advancing to the GPAC Championship Series to be held on Saturday at the home park of the highest remaining seed.
Said Semler, “It’s fun watching this team play with confidence – and that’s the team I love to coach.”
Moore deals shutout; Dawgs advance to GPAC Championship Series
May 6, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A two-day performance by Camry Moore that will go down in Concordia University Softball lore has helped propel the Bulldogs to the GPAC Championship Series for the first time since 2015. In the finals of the Morningside Bracket of the GPAC tournament, Moore dominated the powerful Mustang lineup in a 4-0 victory in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday (May 6). Timely hitting allowed the Bulldogs put up one run in the first and three in the fifth.
Over two days at Jensen Softball Complex, Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad (32-9) defeated Doane and then 13th-ranked Morningside twice to reign supreme in one of the four-team pods. These are the moments the program has been building towards. Concordia is now an automatic national qualifier no matter the outcome in the GPAC Championship Series.
“The girls have really picked up their game,” Semler said. “Cam threw so well these last two days and today she looked stronger than she has in a long time. She was sharp and her pitches were really crisp – really kept them off guard. Our hitting is coming around and the ones who were in a slump are getting out of it and taking better swings. The bottom of the lineup is not like most people’s bottom. I think the move with (Hhana) Haro at the top of the lineup was a big plus. She’s such a catalyst to us offensively. I think things are coming together.”
Moore had a lead before she even toed the rubber thanks to the first-inning RBI triple by Tori Homolka. The Crete native proceeded to flummox the Mustangs, who managed just two singles for the entire seven innings. No one would have even known that Moore covered all 14 innings on Wednesday. She even picked up her teammates in the second when back-to-back errors put runners on second and third with no outs. The next three hitters went strikeout-strikeout-pop out. This was Concordia’s game.
The Bulldogs were able avoid drama in the bottom of the seventh with a snappy 1-2-3 frame. It set off a celebration that brought back memories of the 2015 GPAC tournament title run in Sioux City.
Said Moore, “Our team is peaking at the right time. Getting that final out and coming together as a team to celebrate is one of those feelings you never forget. To beat Morningside twice on their home field two days in a row is a huge moment for our program. Our seniors, and us juniors, had never beaten Morningside and it’s something we really wanted to change … I’m super proud of this team and I can’t wait to see how we continue this postseason journey.”
That fifth inning seemed to break Morningside’s spirits. It started with a single by Caitlyn McGarvie. RBI singles soon followed from Julia Van Wey, Jenessa Jarvis and Moore. It was fitting that Moore put the finishing touches on the scoring tallies, a day after she mashed a pair of home runs. Also noteworthy, Haro went 1-for-3 with a run and became the third player in program history to reach 200 career hits.
Concordia did all of its damage off of star Morningside pitcher Lisa Bolton (four earned runs in five innings). The Mustangs (42-9) will have to hope for an at-large berth to the NAIA national tournament. In this instance, the Bulldogs’ burning desire to beat Morningside carried the day.
“Our dugout was loud,” Semler said. “It had that great tournament atmosphere. I loved it. They were so into the game and so loud. I think that really helped our players in clutch situations. When we scored three (in the fifth) it was pretty loud in our dugout – and not so much in theirs.”
The GPAC tournament title will come down to a best-of-three series at top-seeded Midland (35-8) on Saturday. First pitch of game 1 is set for 11 a.m. CT from Fremont, Neb. Concordia has previously captured GPAC tournament championships in 2007 and 2015. It was the runner up in 2014.
GPAC Championship Series preview: Bulldogs vs. Warriors
May 6, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – As champions of the Morningside Bracket, the Concordia University Softball team will continue its postseason run on Saturday when it meets up with Midland in the GPAC Championship Series. The first team to win two games will earn the GPAC tournament title. First pitch for game 1 from Christensen Field in Fremont, Neb., will be at 11 a.m. CT.
2021 GPAC Championship Series
Concordia (32-9) at Midland (35-8)
Saturday, May 8 | G1 – 11 a.m. | G2 – 1 p.m. | G3 – 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Christensen Field | Fremont, Neb.
Live Webcast: Midland Stretch Live
Fan policy: Fans are allowed to attend the games at Christensen Field and are encouraged to wear face coverings when not able to maintain physical distancing from other family groups. Admission is $10 for adults/senior citizens and $3 for K-12. Only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· Concordia has reached the GPAC tournament championship for the fourth time in program history. The Bulldogs won GPAC postseason titles in 2007 and 2015 and placed as the runner up in 2014. The opponents in previous championship matchups were Dana College in 2007 and Morningside in both 2014 and 2015. The ’21 Concordia squad has already clinched a bid to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The 2014 and 2015 squads also reached the opening round.
· Camry Moore has raised her game to a new level in the postseason. Head Coach Shawn Semler trusted his ace pitcher to throw all 21 innings during play at the Morningside Bracket. In those three outings, Moore went 3-0 and allowed just four runs on 15 hits without issuing a single walk. The Crete High School product fired a two-hit shutout in the Morningside Bracket final, dealing the 13th-ranked Mustangs a 4-0 defeat. Moore is now 20-4 with a 1.61 ERA on the season. This marks the fifth time in school history that a Bulldog pitcher has reached 20 wins in a season. The school record is 24 by Mindy Evans in 1998.
· Third baseman Hhana Haro reached an impressive milestone this week by running her career hits total to 200. Only two other players in program history have reached 200 career hits – Mindy Evans (227) and Clarissa Eloge (208). Haro has thrived in her role in the leadoff spot in the lineup and has extended her hitting streak to 12 games. During the streak, Haro is a combined 23-for-44 (.523) at the plate. She went 5-for-11 during action this week in Sioux City.
· Haro was one of five Bulldogs to notch at least three hits over the three games in the Morningside Bracket. The others were Moore (4-for-8), Julia Van Wey (3-for-8), Kylee Nixon (3-for-9) and Caitlyn McGarvie (3-for-10). Moore belted a pair of homers in the 9-3 win over Morningside on Wednesday. In that same contest, Regan Karel crushed a three-run homer. Brena Brown also homered in the victory over Doane. Concordia outhit Doane/Morningside in batting average, .293 to .188.
· It’s fair to say the Bulldogs had a burning desire to get over the hump against Morningside. No player on the current roster had ever beaten the Mustangs until Wednesday. The program’s most recent victory over Morningside had come on April 6, 2017, in walk-off fashion. As Moore said, “Our seniors, and us juniors, had never beaten Morningside and it’s something we really wanted to change … I’m super proud of this team and I can’t wait to see how we continue this postseason journey.”
The opponent
Now ranked 25th in the NAIA, Midland accomplished the difficult task of having to win three games on Thursday in order to advance to the GPAC Championship Series. The Warriors defeated Northwestern in an elimination game and then topped Jamestown twice, 7-5 and 1-0. Hailee Fliam fired a two-hit shutout in the 1-0 pitcher’s duel. Head Coach Mike Heard has led Midland to GPAC regular season titles in three-straight seasons. He was named GPAC Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019. The team’s most potent hitter has been freshman Roni Foote, who has 11 homers and a .762 slugging percentage. Concordia and Midland split a doubleheader in Seward back on April 11.
NAIA Opening Round
Once the GPAC Championship Series is in the books, both the Bulldogs and Warriors will look forward to the NAIA national tournament selection show on Tuesday, May 11. The opening round will take place at 10 separate sites from May 17-19.
Bulldogs await nationals assignment after falling in GPAC Championship Series
May 8, 2021
FREMONT, Neb. – The momentum built up over two thrilling days in Sioux City, Iowa, withered on Saturday (May 8) as the Concordia University Softball team fell in the GPAC Championship Series at No. 25 Midland. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth of game 1 before the wheels came off in Fremont, Neb. The top-seeded Warriors swept the series, winning twice by the run rule – 9-1 in six innings and 8-0 in five innings.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad knew coming into the day that it had already clinched a bid to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Third-seeded Concordia (32-11) had hoped to sweeten the pot with a GPAC postseason title.
“Today seemed like a perfect storm to make for a rough day,” Semler said. “We ended the regular season with a lot of road trips, started postseason on the road and had some emotional wins to get to today. The wind was as relentless as Midland’s lineup. They are so tough one through nine with speed and power throughout. It makes it hard to catch your breath. Midland is a good team. I think we both will do well at the national tournament. We will be ready to get back to playing great softball.”
Ace pitcher Camry Moore finally did wear down after throwing all 21 innings in GPAC tournament wins over Doane and No. 13 Morningside (twice). Moore managed to shut out Midland (38-8) until a pair of unearned runs came across in the fifth inning of game 1. Then the floodgates opened up. The Warriors struck for seven runs on five hits in the sixth to enact the run rule. The contest ended early when Sierra Athow doubled home Midland’s eighth and ninth tallies.
Game 1 had started out favorably for the Bulldogs. Hhana Haro led off the game with a single and scored three batters later on Tori Homolka’s sacrifice fly. The 1-0 lead stood up until the fifth. From the leadoff spot, Haro just keeps on hitting. She went 3-for-5 on the day and extended her hitting streak to 14 games.
Warrior pitcher Aliyah Rincon shut Concordia out on three hits in game 2. Once again, things got away from the Bulldogs late in the ballgame. Bulldog hurler Jerzi Rowe fired scoreless second and third innings (after allowing two runs in the first) before Midland plated four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth. The Warriors finished with a combined 22 hits on the day.
The pitching duo of Rincon and Hailee Fliam limited Concordia to a grand total of one extra base hit. Bulldog catcher Allysia Thayer recorded one hit in both games and Regan Karel produced a double in game 1. In the circle, Zoe Flores and Brooke Townsend both saw action as relievers.
The Bulldogs will learn of their national tournament draw on Tuesday (May 11) via the NAIA selection show scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on that day. Concordia will be sent to one of 10 opening round sites that have been pre-determined. The program will make its first national tournament appearance (third overall) since 2015.
Concordia Softball assigned to Chickasha Bracket for NAIA Opening Round
May 11, 2021
NAIA Opening Round Announcement
SEWARD, Neb. – The 2021 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round brackets are set. The Concordia University Softball team will be headed to Chickasha, Okla., as part of the Chickasha Bracket hosted by the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma. The journey south will take roughly six-and-a-half hours from Seward. This will be the third national tournament appearance in program history for the Bulldogs.
As the No. 3 seed in the four-team Chickasha Bracket pod, Concordia will take on No. 2 seed Grand View University (Iowa) in the first game slated for Monday, May 17. The other two squads in the bracket are top-seeded Science & Arts and fourth-seeded Bethany College (Kan.). Specific game times were not announced immediately on Tuesday (May 11) during the NAIA’s selection show. The opening rounds (10 separate sites) will play out May 17-19 and follow a double-elimination format.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad qualified for the national tournament thanks to a GPAC tournament runner-up finish. Concordia owns an overall record of 32-11 with victories over four squads that also qualified for nationals: No. 2 Oklahoma City University, No. 13 Morningside (two), No. 25 Midland and Bethany (two). The Bulldogs tied for third in the GPAC regular season standings and were listed among teams receiving votes in the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll.
The 10 opening round winners will advance to the 2021 NAIA Softball World Series to be held in Columbus, Ga., May 27 – June 2.
Facts about Concordia at the national tournament
· Concordia has qualified for the opening round of the national tournament for the third time in program history. Under previous head coach Todd LaVelle, the Bulldogs appeared at the opening round in Shawnee, Okla., in 2014 and in Oklahoma City, Okla., in 2015. In that 2014 appearance (first in school history), Concordia dropped games by scores of 4-3 against sixth-ranked St. Gregory’s University and 3-1 versus Bellevue University. Then in 2015, the Bulldogs earned the program’s first-ever national tournament win (and only to this day) via a 6-4 decision over Grand View University (Iowa). That victory was sandwiched in between two losses to top-ranked Oklahoma City University. Concordia is 1-4 all-time in the opening round.
· Trivia: Which player earned the first national tournament pitching victory in program history? Answer: Michaela Woodward. A native of Cortland, Neb., Woodward tossed all seven innings in the aforementioned win over Grand View. She allowed three earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two hitters. Woodward posted 20 wins during the ’15 season. Only two pitchers in school history have started national tournament games – Woodward and Amanda Beeson.
· The path to the national tournament became a little clearer for the program when the GPAC began to receive two automatic bids. It’s worth noting that former head coach Frank Greene led the Bulldogs to GPAC regular season titles in 2005 and 2008 and to a conference tournament championship in 2007. Under the current format, Concordia would have earned automatic national tournament bids in each instance. However, at that time, the Bulldogs had to navigate a regional tournament in order to qualify for nationals. Concordia garnered auto bids in 2014 (GPAC tournament runner up) and 2015 (GPAC tournament champion) under a new format.
· Shawn Semler is now the second head coach in program history to take the Bulldogs to the national tournament. In his previous collegiate coaching job, Semler guided NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State University to four NCAA tournaments. Semler left as the program’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 241-160. Semler’s record in three seasons at Concordia stands at 72-25. His overall record in 18 seasons as a collegiate softball coach is 483-283.
Haro, McGarvie, Moore named to All-GPAC first team
May 13, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – On the heels of a national tournament appearance, the Concordia University Softball program has landed a trio of Bulldogs on the 2021 first team all-conference list, as announced by the GPAC on Thursday (May 13). First team accolades went to Hhana Haro, Caitlyn McGarvie and Camry Moore. Meanwhile, three Concordia standouts also garnered honorable mention All-GPAC recognition: Tori Homolka, Jenessa Jarvis and Kylee Nixon.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad will enter the NAIA National Championship Opening Round with a record of 32-11. The aforementioned Bulldogs helped lead the team to a GPAC tournament runner-up finish.
Named the 2018 GPAC Player of the Year, Haro has enjoyed a hot streak that spanned the course of the conference season. In GPAC games only, Haro batted .479 (34-71), a batting average that ranked second in the league. Overall this season, the third baseman from Garden Grove, Calif., has hit .388 with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs, 20 RBIs, a .446 on-base percentage and a .507 slugging percentage. Now a Concordia graduate, Haro has been named first team all-conference three times. On the program’s all-time career lists, Haro ranks third in hits (203), third in doubles (42), fourth in batting average (.448), sixth in home runs (15), sixth in RBIs (106) and ninth in runs scored (99).
A native of Valparaiso, Neb., McGarvie has earned her first career all-conference award. The Bulldog left fielder is currently hitting .342 with nine doubles, a triple, 21 RBIs, a .410 on-base percentage on four stolen bases. When factoring in conference games only, McGarvie has hit .345 (20-for-58). In 54 career collegiate games, she owns a .351 batting average with 10 doubles and 25 RBIs.
Moore has risen to star status as both a pitcher and hitter. The Crete, Neb., native moved up to the GPAC’s first team after earning second team honors in 2019. As the team’s ace, Moore owns a pitching record of 20-5 to go along with a 1.75 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 148.1 innings. Moore has surrendered just 14 walks all season. In an impressive effort, she threw all 21 innings as Concordia went 3-0 as part of the Morningside Bracket of the GPAC tournament. At the plate, Moore is hitting .391 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 40 RBIs, a .442 on-base percentage and .677 slugging percentage.
Homolka (Swanton, Neb.) has been a rock for the program over the past four seasons. So far this season, she’s started all 43 games at shortstop and is hitting .333 with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 41 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, a .361 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. Homolka was a first team All-GPAC selection in 2019. On the program’s all-time career lists, she ranks second in triples (14), tied for fourth in home runs (17), fifth in RBIs (110), tied for seventh in runs scored (102), seventh in stolen bases (32), 10th in hits (160) and 10th in doubles (33).
In her final season with the Bulldogs, Jarvis established herself as a steady performer in center field. The native of Vail, Ariz., is hitting .303 with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs, 25 RBIs, a .418 on-base percentage and .437 slugging percentage. This marked her first season as a full-time starter. In 122 career games, Jarvis has collected 71 hits, 71 runs, 16 doubles, two triples and four home runs.
As the starting second baseman, Nixon has batted both in the leadoff spot and in the middle of the lineup. The York, Neb., native is currently batting .309 with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 RBIs, a .355 on-base percentage and .489 slugging percentage. In 90 career games, Nixon has batted .352 with 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 54 RBIs. Nixon won the starting role at second as a freshman in 2019.
NAIA Opening Round Preview: Chickasha Bracket
May 14, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The sixth national tournament game in program history will get underway at 12 p.m. CT on Monday. The Concordia University Softball team has garnered the No. 3 seed in the four-team Chickasha Bracket and will face off with Grand View University (Iowa) in the very first game of the bracket. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad will be joined in Oklahoma by host and top-seeded University of Science & Arts and fourth-seeded Bethany College (Kan.).
NAIA Opening Round – Chickasha Bracket
Site: Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Okla.
Live Webcasts: USAO Stretch Live
Live Stats: Dakstats
Monday, May 17
Game 1 – (1) Science & Arts vs. (4) Bethany, 12 p.m.
Game 2 – (2) Grand View vs. (3) Concordia, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 18
Game 3 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 2 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19
Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Fan information/tickets: Spectators are permitted to attend games at the Chickasha Bracket. Fans are expected to wear face coverings when proper distancing cannot be maintained. Admission can be purchased at the ballpark entrance (no online sales). Ticket prices are $10 for a day pass and $25 for a tournament pass.
For details on Concordia program history at the national tournament, click HERE.
By the numbers
· As announced on Thursday by the GPAC, six Bulldogs have earned 2021 all-conference accolades: Hhana Haro (first team), Caitlyn McGarvie (first team), Camry Moore (first team), Tori Homolka (honorable mention), Jenessa Jarvis (honorable mention) and Kylee Nixon (honorable mention). One of the most accomplished players in program history, Haro has earned three first team All-GPAC awards in her career. On the program’s all-time career lists, Haro ranks third in hits (203), third in doubles (42), fourth in batting average (.448), sixth in home runs (15), sixth in RBIs (106) and ninth in runs scored (99).
· Moore moved up from second team All-GPAC as a freshman in 2019 to the first team in 2021. The Crete, Neb., native has established herself as the best two-way player (pitcher-hitter) in the GPAC. As the team’s ace, Moore owns a pitching record of 20-5 to go along with a 1.75 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 148.1 innings. Moore has surrendered just 14 walks all season. In an impressive effort, she threw all 21 innings as Concordia went 3-0 as part of the Morningside Bracket of the GPAC tournament. At the plate, Moore is hitting .391 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 40 RBIs, a .442 on-base percentage and .677 slugging percentage.
· Named the 2018 GPAC Player of the Year as a freshman, Haro will bring a 14-game hitting streak into the national tournament. Over that stretch, Haro has batted .531 (26-for-49) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs and a .735 slugging percentage. With her 203 career hits, Haro stands behind only Mindy Evans (227) and Clarissa Eloge (208) on the school’s all-time list.
· Haro and Homolka will finish their impressive college softball careers at the national tournament. Homolka (Swanton, Neb.) has been a rock for the program over the past four seasons. So far this season, she’s started all 43 games at shortstop and is hitting .333 with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 41 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, a .361 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. Homolka was a first team All-GPAC selection in 2019. On the program’s all-time career lists, she ranks second in triples (14), tied for fourth in home runs (17), fifth in RBIs (110), tied for seventh in runs scored (102), seventh in stolen bases (32), 10th in hits (160) and 10th in doubles (33).
· The Bulldogs will have to advance to the NAIA Softball World Series in order to make a serious run at the program’s single-season wins record of 36 achieved by the 2005 team that won the GPAC regular season title under the guidance of then Head Coach Frank Greene. At 32-11 overall (.744), this 2021 Concordia team boasts the second best winning percentage in school history behind only the 1998 squad that went 33-10 (.767). Four teams in school history have won at least 33 games, including the 2003 (34-16) and 2017 (34-14) squads.
Chickasha Bracket Opposition
(1) University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (48-6) – As the top seed and host of the bracket, the Drovers will be considered the favorite to advance to the NAIA World Series. Head Coach Jadyn Wallis’ squad defeated second-ranked Oklahoma City University, 3-1, in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship game on May 8. From a statistical standpoint, USAO has no significant weaknesses. Nationally, it ranks third in ERA (1.22), fourth in fielding percentage (.975), sixth in opponent batting average (.194), sixth in batting average (.361), ninth in slugging percentage (.534) and 14th in runs scored per game (6.7). Top pitcher Emily Cerny is 33-5 with a 1.05 ERA and 318 strikeouts in 233.1 innings.
(2) Grand View University (42-11) – The one and only national tournament win in Concordia Softball history came over Grand View in 2015. The current Vikings were ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA Coaches’ Poll. Under Head Coach Lou A. Yacinich, Grand View has qualified for the national tournament seven times in the past eight seasons. Led by Alyx Witt (15 home runs, 48 RBIs), the Vikings have homered 46 times as a team. A strong pitching staff is led by Hannah Pals, who is 25-5 with a 1.34 ERA and 299 strikeouts in 194 innings. Grand View on the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title.
(4) Bethany College (26-27) – Concordia and Bethany went head-to-head in Lindsborg, Kan., back on Feb. 28 with the Bulldogs earning a doubleheader sweep. The Swedes earned an automatic bid to nationals via their Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season runner up finish. This marks Bethany’s second all-time national tournament appearance and first since 2013. The top player for the Swedes has been slugger Ciera Flores, who has collected 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 63 RBIs.
NAIA Softball World Series
No Concordia Softball team has ever made its way to the NAIA Softball World Series. The 2021 Series will be held at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga., May 27 – June 2. The 10 winners to emerge from the opening round brackets advance to the World Series.
Bulldogs clipped in walk-off defeat on opening round's first day
May 17, 2021
CHICKASHA, Okla. – A third-inning home run from Hhana Haro put the first run of the game on the board, but the Concordia University Softball team was outlasted, 5-4, in nine innings by 22nd-ranked Grand View University (Iowa) on Monday (May 17). The two sides met as part of the Chickasha (Okla.) Bracket in the 2021 NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The rain cleared and the sun came out in Oklahoma, where the Bulldogs made the program’s third national tournament appearance.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad endured one rough inning that played a critical role in the outcome. Concordia (32-12) will now face elimination on Tuesday.
“I thought the girls played hard today,” Semler said. “It was a really good game between two well-matched teams. They have a good lineup so it’s tough to give them extra outs – and they took advantage. I love how we battled back to tie it up. Our bats went silent from there and we paid the price. Tomorrow will be a tall order with us meeting the top seed. How we handle the loss today and we how we come back will say a lot about who we are.”
Both starting pitchers went the distance in a mostly well-played ballgame. After the Bulldog offense went down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings, the Vikings (43-11) put a runner on third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. That’s when Alyx Witt’s ground ball up the middle pushed across the game winner. Many of the 12 Viking hits looked that way over the course of the day – ground balls through the infield.
A four-run Grand View fourth provide a 4-2 lead for the Vikings at the time. Concordia quickly evened things up with Tori Homolka’s bloop single that landed just inside the left field line and scored a pair of runs. Viking pitcher Hannah Pals locked in from that point on and held the Bulldogs without a hit over the sixth through ninth innings. Concordia wasted a leadoff walk by Allysia Thayer in the seventh.
Grand View got four runs in the fourth on six hits (all singles), mostly of the seeing-eye variety. An error with two outs paved the way for half of those runs to come across to score. Witt finished 4-for-5 with the aforementioned game-winning RBI.
The six Bulldog hits all came from the fop four hitters in the lineup: Haro (2-for-4), Jenessa Jarvis (1-for-3), Camry Moore (1-for-4) and Homolka (2-for-4). Thayer put together some nice at bats out of the No. 8 spot and worked two walks. From the leadoff position, Haro extended her hitting streak to 15 games.
In the circle, Moore covered all 8.2 innings before the winning tally came home. She allowed three earned runs and recorded three strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Concordia has also made NAIA national tournament appearances in the state of Oklahoma in 2014 and 2015. The trip to Oklahoma City in 2015 included a win over Grand View. It marked the first and still the only national tournament win in program history.
With potential inclement weather on the way on Tuesday, game time has been moved up to a 10:30 a.m. CT first pitch. At that time, the Bulldogs will take on top-seeded University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma. The Drovers were upset by fourth-seeded Bethany College (Kan.) in the very first game of the bracket. The Concordia-USAO winner would play again on Tuesday against Grand View.
Season concludes with national tournament nail-biter
May 18, 2021
CHICKASHA, Okla. – A Kylee Nixon first-inning, three-run homer and a fine pitching performance from Jerzi Rowe nearly kept the season alive for Concordia University Softball, but top-seeded and third-ranked University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma rallied back. A four-run seventh lifted The Drovers to a 5-3 victory in an elimination game at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round in Chickasha, Okla., on Tuesday (May 18).
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad concluded the season at 32-13 overall while making the program’s third national tournament appearance.
"It's been quite a ride,” Semler said. “I loved how hard they played and how much they played as a team. The camaraderie in the dugout for these games was second to none. That senior group really led all of that. It's going to be hard to see them go."
With its season on the line, USAO trotted out ace pitcher Emily Cerny (1.08 ERA entering the game). With two outs and two on in the bottom of the first, Nixon drilled Cerny’s 2-0 pitch over the left field wall. The Bulldogs coasted on those three runs and took a 3-1 lead all the way to the top of the seventh. Rowe had wiggled out of a jam in the sixth when the Drovers began the frame with back-to-back singles.
A freshman from Gretna, Neb., Rowe gave Concordia everything Semler could have asked for. She worked into the seventh inning and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. A Mackenzie Ruth RBI triple in the seventh helped turn the tide in favor of USAO. The bracket host eventually took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Randa Hatter, and another run came home on a wild pitch. Zoe Flores and Brooke Townsend both came in as relievers during the seventh.
This was the last hurrah for seniors such as Hhana Haro, Tori Homolka, Jenessa Jarvis, Regan Karel and Allysia Thayer, who were each part of Tuesday’s lineup. They played a major role in getting the program back to the national stage.
Said Homolka, “This tournament just proves how good we are and who we can play with. We played two great teams and I think we showed so much. I have so much respect for this program. It was an honor to be here and it was great to be in this environment with the girls.”
Added Haro, “Being able to come out here and play competitive and do what I love – it means a lot to me. It was super rewarding to end my career this way. We worked four years to get this far.”
The loss of the seniors will leave several voids in the lineup, but Semler will also miss having their personalities and leadership inside the dugout. “Our seniors are amazing,” Semler said. “They are better people than they are softball players – and they’re pretty darn good softball players. It’s going to be sad to see them go. I think they’ve taught the younger group a lot about the game. Those younger kids being a part of this is really going to help us along.”
Had the Bulldogs defeated the Drovers, they would have played Grand View University (Iowa) in another elimination game on Tuesday. Fourth-seeded Bethany College (Kan.) moved into the driver’s seat of the Chickasha Bracket by going 2-0 on Monday.
The highlights of Concordia’s season included a victory over No. 2 Oklahoma City University and two wins over Morningside at the GPAC tournament. The runner-up GPAC tournament finish clinched an automatic bid to nationals.
Moore selected to NAIA All-Region team by NFCA
May 29, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – One of the key figures in leading the 2021 Concordia University Softball team to a national tournament appearance, Camry Moore earned recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Friday (May 28). Moore has been named by the NFCA as an NAIA All-Region III First Team selection. The Crete High School alum excelled both at the plate and in the circle while also maintaining a high grade point average in the classroom.
A 2021 first team All-GPAC performer, Moore starred as one of the top two-way (pitcher-hitter) players in the entire NAIA. This past season, Moore went 20-6 with a 1.78 earned run average while recording 116 strikeouts in 157 innings (30 pitching appearances). She walked just 14 batters the entire spring. She became the fifth pitcher in school history to win at least 20 games in a single season. At the plate, Moore paced the team with a .386 batting average and notched 12 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 41 RBIs, a .435 on-base percentage and a .664 slugging percentage.
Moore emerged as an immediate impact player when she arrived in Seward as a freshman. In 66 career pitching appearances, Moore owns a 39-16 record to go along with a 2.11 ERA in 344.2 innings. As a hitter, she has batted .367 (110-for-300) with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 85 RBIs. At nearby Crete High School, Moore led her team to a state championship as a senior.
The all-region teams honor softball student-athletes from the Association’s six regions with first- and second-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region vote on the teams, and all student-athletes now become eligible for the 2021 NFCA NAIA All-America squads. The 2021 NFCA NAIA All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, June 7.
Season-In-Review: 2021 Concordia Softball
June 9, 2021
In many ways, the 2021 season represented one of the best in the history of the Concordia University Softball program. Following an upset of then fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University in March, the Bulldogs were knocking on the door of the NAIA top 25 poll. The last hurrah for two of the program’s all-time greats, third baseman Hhana Haro and shortstop Tori Homolka, saw them conclude their careers in the opening round of the NAIA Softball National Championship.
A break here or there and Concordia may have wound up in the NAIA World Series instead of losing two close games in the opening round to squads that finished highly ranked in the NAIA postseason poll (No. 9 Science & Arts and No. 11 Grand View).
While coming to grips with the conclusion of her career, Homolka remarked, “This tournament just proves how good we are and who we can play with. We played two great teams and I think we showed so much. I have so much respect for this program. It was an honor to be here and it was great to be in this environment with the girls.”
The Bulldogs wrapped up the ’21 campaign with an overall record of 32-13 (tied for the fifth most wins in a single season in program history). Homolka and company placed in a tie for third in the GPAC regular season before making a run to the GPAC Championship Series (won by Midland, 2-0). Of course the 10-7 victory over Oklahoma City on March 9 represented one of the highpoints of the spring. Homolka came through with a key three-run homer in the fourth inning and Zoe Flores threw an incredible 5.2 scoreless innings against one of the nation’s top offensive teams.
Six Concordia standouts collected All-GPAC accolades, including first teamers in Haro, Caitlyn McGarvie and Camry Moore. Meanwhile, Homolka, Jenessa Jarvis and Kylee Nixon picked up honorable mention accolades. One of the nation’s best two-way players, Moore rose to star status in 2021 and was the ringleader behind a pair of GPAC tournament wins over longtime nemesis Morningside.
May 6 marked one of the more thrilling days in program history as Moore fired a two-hit shutout of then 13th-ranked Morningside in a momentous 4-0 win that pushed the Bulldogs to the GPAC Championship Series. Said Moore afterwards, “Getting that final out and coming together as a team to celebrate is one of those feelings you never forget. To beat Morningside twice on their home field two days in a row is a huge moment for our program. Our seniors, and us juniors, had never beaten Morningside and it’s something we really wanted to change. I’m super proud of this team.”
Tweeted Homolka after the win, “We definitely came together as one! An amazing feeling!” Such comments made it clear how much it meant to finally slay the Mustangs (who wound up receiving an at-large national tournament bid). Admitted Homolka prior to the GPAC tournament, “We want to beat Morningside … they have a big target on their back.”
After dropping the GPAC Championship Series at Midland, Concordia regrouped for its trip south to Chickasha, Okla., for an opening round pod hosted by the University of Science & Arts. The Bulldogs came up on the wrong end of a 5-4 decision (nine innings) versus Grand View and a 5-3 score against Science & Arts. In what proved to be the season finale, Nixon blasted a three-run homer off NAIA Pitcher of the Year Emily Cerny and Bulldog freshman pitcher Jerzi Rowe fired six innings of one-run ball until running into trouble in the seventh.
The results weren’t what the team hoped for, but Concordia still managed to soak up the national tournament experience. Said Haro, “Being able to come out here and play competitive and do what I love – it means a lot to me. It was super rewarding to end my career this way. We worked four years to get this far.”
Few players in the history of the program have accomplished more than Haro, the 2018 GPAC Player of the Year and three-time first team all-conference performer. After a slow start in 2021, Haro got blazing hot and hit .479 (34-for-71) during conference play. Late in the season, the native of Garden Grove, Calif., became just the third player in program history to reach 200 hits for a career. She batted an eye-popping .446 in 138 career collegiate games.
In her senior day reflection, Haro wrote, “My time here was very fun and went by so quick. I’m happy I was able to play this sport I love while getting such a good education. The university has brought so many good memories and has made me such a resilient person moving onto the next chapter of my life.” Added Homolka, “From almost burning down the dorms freshman year trying to make ramen noodles, to learning to live with four other girls, I am so glad to say that I will graduate from Concordia University.”
The infield was stacked with talent with Haro at third, Homolka at short, Nixon at second and Moore often working in the circle. Senior Allysia Thayer enjoyed another excellent season behind the plate. Her work played a role in an impressive spring for Moore, who went 20-6 with a 1.78 ERA and 116 strikeouts (just 14 walks) in 157 innings. At the plate, the Crete High School alum batted a team best .386 with 12 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 41 RBIs.
As part of the journey, the Bulldogs raced out to a 17-2 record that marked the best 19-game start in program history. Included in that stretch was a doubleheader sweep of a Bethany College squad that advanced to the final four of the NAIA World Series. On March 24, Concordia stood narrowly outside of the top 25 poll (No. 27). It received votes nationally in six of the seven NAIA coaches’ polls released in 2021.
McGarvie, Moore and Nixon will be the headlining returners in 2022 for the Bulldogs. The senior class of graduates was a strong one that featured starters in Haro, Homolka, Jarvis, Regan Karel and Thayer. The next head coach will look to build upon the program’s seventh 30-plus win season during the GPAC era (2000-present). The Bulldogs have made three national tournament appearances (2014, 2015, 2021).
Moore garners Academic All-District award
July 9, 2021
2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Softball Team
SEWARD, Neb. – Impressive on the field and in the classroom, Concordia University Softball standout Camry Moore has been selected to the 2021 Academic All-District® Softball Team, as announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (July 1). Teammate Hhana Haro earned Academic All-District honors in 2020. Moore landed on the NAIA’s District 3 team, which covers the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The 2021 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NAIA, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.
The honors have been piling up for Moore, who was also named an NAIA All-Region III First Team selection in late May. The Crete, Neb., native also garnered first team All-GPAC accolades during a tremendous 2021 season. This past spring, Moore went 20-6 with a 1.78 earned run average while recording 116 strikeouts in 157 innings (30 pitching appearances). She walked just 14 batters the entire season. Moore became the fifth pitcher in school history to win at least 20 games in a single season. At the plate, Moore paced the team with a .386 batting average and notched 12 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 41 RBIs, a .435 on-base percentage and a .664 slugging percentage. Moore is studying Mathematics and is an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in late July.
Concordia represented by six All-Midlands softball selections
July 3, 2021
OWH All-Midlands Softball Team
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of six Bulldogs have represented the Concordia University Softball team with 2021 All-Midlands Softball Team recognition, as announced by the Omaha World-Herald on Friday (July 2). Hhana Haro, Tori Homolka and Camry Moore landed on the roster of 13 All-Midlands award winners while Jenessa Jarvis, Caitlyn McGarvie and Kylee Nixon collected honorable mention accolades.
The six Bulldog honorees helped the 2021 team to a 32-13 overall record and an appearance at the NAIA national tournament opening round. Concordia placed in a tie for third in the conference regular season standings and then made a run to the GPAC Championship Series as part of its postseason journey.
Concordia All-Midlands award winners
Hhana Haro | Garden Grove, Calif.
2021 stats: .383 BA, 33 R, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, .439 OBP, .518 SLG
Tori Homolka | Swanton, Neb.
2021 stats: .338 BA, 28 R, 8 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 12 SB, .364 OBP, .556 SLG
Jenessa Jarvis | Vail, Ariz.
2021 stats: .296 BA, 35 R, 8 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, .412 OBP, .424 SLG
Caitlyn McGarvie | Valparaiso, Neb.
2021 stats: .325 BA, 23 R, 9 2B, 3B, 21 RBI, .393 OBP, .413 SLG
Camry Moore | Crete, Neb.
2021 stats: (hitting) .386 BA, 44 R, 12 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 41 RBI, .435 OBP, .664 SLG | (pitching) 20-6 W-L, 1.78 ERA, 157 IP, 147 H, 14 BB, 116 K, .241 Opp BA
Kylee Nixon | York, Neb.
2021 stats: .303 BA, 40 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .348 OBP, .497 SLG
2021 Omaha World-Herald All-Midlands Softball Team
* denotes honorary captain
P: Lauren Jurek, Bellevue
P: Camry Moore, Concordia
P: Aliyah Rincon, Midland
P: Josie Schnakenberg, Doane
*C: Katlin Anders, Midland
IF: Roni Foote, Midland
IF: Tori Homolka, Concordia
IF: Lauren Russell, Bellevue
IF: Bobbi Singleton, Midland
OF: Maricela Egan, Bellevue
OF: Carlee Liesch, UNK
OF: Emily Prai, Midland
DH: Hhana Haro, Concordia
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Ellie Bliemeister, Emily Rochford. Chadron State: Bailey Marvel, Sloane Ouijas. Concordia: Jenessa Jarvis, Caitlyn McGarvie, Kylee Nixon. Doane: Shelby Downard, Megan Elliott, Kayla Miller, Josie Schnakenberg. Hastings: Alyssa Carter, Mattie Hogrefe. Midland: Sierra Athow, Andrea Cespedes, Hailee Fliam, Carly Pfitzer. Nebraska Wesleyan: Emma Alfieri, Alycin Braun, Kailey Meyer. Peru State: Alana Krieser, Morgan Wilke. Saint Mary: Alexis Lowe, Maddie Nekola, Abby Straight. UNK: Kelsey Goodban, Katie Gosker, Bri Healy, Abbie Vodicka. Wayne State: Jenna Etmans, Kamryn Sparks, Kim Vidlak. York: Kate Reyes, Briana Walter.